Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie pays tribute to his son Calvin Le John for purchasing Siwelele FC

The R50 million sale of Supersport United to Calvin Le John, the son of Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, has raised eyebrows around the country, as many question possible conflict of interest. 

Although the deal still awaits final approval from the PSL Executive Committee, McKenzie seems confident that this will be no issue, waxing platitudes about his businessman son, who is running their family business. 

Taking to Facebook on Saturday morning, amid many questions around the deal, McKenzie said his eldest son had been born “five hours after I have been jailed for 17 years”.

“You grew up seeing me through jail bars. You never visited me on the weekends of the home games of Siwelele because you and your grandpa would go and watch the games religiously just like me and him when I was young,” he said, attempting to connect with fans of the defunct Bloemfontein Celtics.

McKenzie said the purchase of Siwelele FC was a moment of connection between himself, and his son. 

“I remember you told me that it brings you closer to me emotionally knowing that you are doing the same thing I did with my father and your grandfather.

“You suffered not growing up without your dad, I thank God for a powerful mother who stood in the gap.

“You are the main reason why I behaved better because I wanted to come out and didn’t wanna see you grow up through jail bars forever,” he said.

McKenzie said he has handed over control of their family business to his son, since he was now dedicated to his political party, the Patriotic Alliance.

“You have taken full control of the family businesses, you move differently than me, you take the businesses in another direction and I trust you, don’t always agree but I trust you.

“I agree fully with your purchase of Supersport because we both stood at the deathbed of my father and your grandad and we promised that we will always look after Siwelele.

“Lastly to the people of the Free State Siwelele is not a team, it’s our Heritage, our Culture and part of our Soul. My friend Jessica Motaung tried everything to make me a Chiefs supporter and I steadfastly refused because Siwelele is in my bone marrow,” said McKenzie. 

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