Financial Mail and Business Day

Tshakhuma handed a Gallant new name

Marc Strydom

The club that was known formerly as Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) unveiled their new name — Marumo Gallants FC — at the launch in Sandton on Thursday.

Gallants chair Abram Sello explained that the name was based on the bravery shown by then-TTM in the past season surviving relegation from the Premiership through fight and courage‚ and winning the Nedbank Cup too.

The direct translation of Marumo from Sepedi is “sword”‚ but also means bravery.

Sello had bought a club in disarray from previous owner Lawrence Mulaudzi in January.

Mulaudzi had bought the Premier Division franchise of 99-year-old Bidvest Wits at the end of the 2019-2020 season‚ but soon ran into financial trouble‚ with reports of players not being paid.

TTM seemed bound for relegation in the first season of their new existence. However, the arrival of Sello‚ who stabilised an apparently disastrous situation to a large extent‚ and brought in the coaching trio of Dylan Kerr‚ Mpho Maleka as well as David Mathebula‚ saw TTM end 12th.

“[The name] Marumo Gallants is a promise to all our fans that we will fight to continue to remain in the league for all time‚” Sello said.

SPORT

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2021-06-18T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-18T07:00:00.0000000Z

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