Marumo Gallants chairman Abram Sello announced the move on Tuesday. It brings an end to the club’s two-year stay in Bloemfontein.
The club known as Bahlabane Ba Ntwa will now operate from Pretoria, while hosting their home matches at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
DR ABRAM SELLO EXPLAINS DECISION
Dr Sello sent a letter to the South African Football Association (SAFA) Mangaung Region and regional sports authorities. He thanked the Free State community for its support during the club’s stay in the province.
He said venue challenges, travel demands and Premier Soccer League compliance requirements influenced the decision. The club also faced growing financial pressure, with low attendances and rising operational costs making it difficult to remain in Bloemfontein.
The relocation marks another major blow for football supporters in the Free State. Many fans had hoped Marumo Gallants would restore top-flight football following the departure of Bloemfontein Celtic in 2021.
Meanwhile, the opening league game against Mamelodi Sundowns has been postponed.
MARUMO GALLANTS’ JOURNEY CONTINUES
The club were formed in 2021 after Dr Abram Sello purchased the Premier Soccer League status of Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM).
The club enjoyed immediate success by winning the 2021 Nedbank Cup before reaching the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup in 2023. However, Gallants were relegated from the Betway Premiership later that season.
The club returned to the top flight in 2024 after acquiring the Moroka Swallows status. After two seasons in Bloemfontein, Marumo Gallants will now begin a new chapter from Pretoria and Rustenburg as they prepare for the 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign.
