The story behind the scenes...

Chairman Calvin Le John laid bare the realities of acquiring SuperSport United's status.

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The purchase came with two strict conditions: retaining all staff and basing the team in Gauteng for at least one season. While these conditions were met, they have come at a significant financial and logistical cost.

With the team based away from its Free State home, Siwelele effectively plays every match as an away fixture. This has strained both the players and the budget, with the club adopting a controversial travel policy: only flying when distances exceed 600 kilometres. Critics argue this undermines player recovery and professionalism, though the chairman insists it is necessary for sustainability.

Behind the scenes, the atmosphere has been unsettled. Matthews and Arendse's shock exits were attributed to death threats, a development that rocked the camp and left players uneasy. In their place, the chairman has appointed new faces:

• Acting CEO: Lerato Kgolwanyane, a businesswoman with a decade-long working relationship with the chairman.

• Assistant coach: Former Bafana Bafana defender Willem Jackson was brought in to instil culture and identity.