Bloemfontein Celtic in financial turmoil again – staff unpaid in February

Premier Soccer League club Bloemfontein Celtic are reportedly in financial trouble again with their technical staff going unpaid in February.

Cash flow problems return to haunt Bloemfontein Celtic

Celtic had to let coach Steve Khompela go last season when cash flow problems at Siwelele left them unable to pay him on time.

The players received their pay for February but coaches were told to be patient or find a new employer, according to a report from Kick Off.

“Ja, it’s true. It’s tough here even though it’s only this month. They only paid the players,” an anonymous source told Kick Off.

Serious allegations against club owner

The source alleges that Bloemfontein Celtic owner Max Tshabalala pays the bills with funds from a government tender. Tshabalala tried to sell the club in 2018, but the process was halted by a R43 million SARS debt.

“The problem is this guy [Max Tshabalala] runs the team with money from a government tender, so if a tender fails to pay him, it’s a problem,” the source goes on.

“So the only reason he paid the players is because he doesn’t want them to strike, because that will bring the league into disrepute.

“But sooner or later it’s going to happen because he is owing them also bonuses. He keeps on postponing them, postponing them. So it’s a matter of time before this thing backfires again.

“This guy is not good, he is arrogant my brother, this guy. He says whoever wants to leave can leave. What can you do? This guy doesn’t care.”

Bloemfontein Celtic players might soon be unhappy

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The source also warned there was trouble ahead as players hadn’t been paid all their bonuses and could also soon see their salaries disrupted.

“These people are all the same, there’s only a few teams that take care of the contracts but others… even the staff is demotivated in this club, technical, supporting staff, it’s only players but it’s a matter of time because now their bonuses are also behind.

“Soon it’s going to backfire again.”

Celtic are currently a comfortable ninth and don’t appear to be in any danger of the drop, but financial mismanagement might see them lose their Premiership status if proven.

Tshabalala is believed to still be keen on selling the club, but buyers have been wary.