• Full Name: Pat Malabela
• Date of Birth: 1970
• Birthplace: Tzaneen, Limpopo Province, South Africa
• Occupation: Businessman, Former Football Club Owner
• Known For: Former Owner of Dynamos FC
• Honors: Helped bring professional football to Limpopo, pioneering rural club participation in the PSL

Who is Pat Malabela?

Pat Malabela is a South African businessman and former football club owner who made his mark by acquiring and building Dynamos FC into one of the first successful rural-based football clubs in the PSL era. Known for his fearless, entrepreneurial spirit, Malabela’s story is one of ambition, football passion, business deals — and legal battles. Despite setbacks, he remains an influential figure in Limpopo’s business and sporting circles.

Early Life and Business Beginnings

• Born in Tzaneen, Limpopo Province, in 1970 (estimated).
• Grew up in a rural environment where football was a major community passion.
• Entered the business world early, building a portfolio in construction, logistics, and tourism.
• Established himself as one of Limpopo’s emerging entrepreneurs by the late 1990s.

Entry into Football: The Birth of a Dream

• In the early 2000s, Malabela traveled to the United Kingdom on holiday.
• While there, he read a newspaper article about a young man buying shares in Tottenham Hotspur.
• Inspired by the story, he decided to invest in football ownership upon returning to South Africa.

Buying Dynamos FC

• Returned to South Africa and discovered that Dynamos FC, owned by Peter Rabale, had narrowly avoided relegation.
• Tracked down Rabale and negotiated to purchase Dynamos FC for R600,000.
• At the time of the purchase, the club had only three players under contract.
• At just 30 years old, Malabela became the new owner and immediately began rebuilding the team.
• Successfully signed credible players and, within a season, led Dynamos back into the top tier of South African football.

Building Dynamos into a Competitive Force

Photo provided by Enzo Coppola:

• Positioned Dynamos FC as a proud representative of Limpopo in the PSL.
• Focused on promoting local talent and investing in club infrastructure.
• Turned Giyani Stadium into a stronghold, with Dynamos upsetting bigger clubs regularly.
• Became a symbol of rural football pride, showing that clubs outside big cities could succeed at the top level.
• Developed a strong personal reputation as a “hands-on” owner — even personally monitoring player behavior and training commitment.

Sale to AmaZulu and Legal Disputes

• In 2006, sold the Dynamos PSL franchise to the Sokhela family, owners of AmaZulu FC, for a reported R41 million.
• However, a dispute soon arose over outstanding payments, with Malabela claiming AmaZulu owed him R27 million.
• Obtained a garnishee order from the Johannesburg High Court against AmaZulu’s PSL grants.
• In December 2007, received R860,000 from the PSL meant for AmaZulu, consisting of monthly grants and cup appearance fees.
• The legal battle over the unpaid balance dragged on for years, overshadowing parts of his football legacy.

Club Ownership Challenges

• Faced major challenges with player strikes and financial tensions during Dynamos’ final years.
• A famous incident involved coach Jacob Sakala — when players refused to train due to unpaid salaries, Sakala lied about being at training.
• Malabela, spotting Sakala driving around town instead, famously called him out over the phone — illustrating his deeply personal involvement in club matters.

Business Ventures and Personal Setbacks

• After exiting football, expanded business interests in construction, tourism, and security services.
• In 2017, became a victim of fraud, losing over R3 million in a fake security business deal involving forged documents linked to Standard Bank.
• Reported the fraud to police; suspect arrested and court cases followed.
• Declined to comment publicly, saying he trusted the legal process to recover losses.

Later Life and Current Activities

• Appointed Chairman of the Limpopo Economic Development Enterprise (LEDE) — a sign of his ongoing influence in business circles.
• Remains active in mining, construction, and community projects across Limpopo.
• Has expressed interest in returning to football one day but has not confirmed plans to revive Dynamos FC.

Summary

• Pat Malabela rose from Tzaneen roots to become a bold pioneer in South African football, showing that rural clubs could challenge urban giants.
• Built Dynamos FC into a PSL force, providing a platform for Limpopo footballers.
• Legal disputes and business challenges later clouded his football story, but his contribution to professionalizing Limpopo football remains undeniable.
• Continues to be a respected businessman and community leader in Limpopo.

Final Thoughts

Pat Malabela’s journey is one of vision, resilience, and ambition.
He dared to dream when few believed a rural football club could thrive on the national stage — and for a time, he succeeded brilliantly.
Although financial disputes and fraud setbacks tested his resolve, Malabela’s story reflects the spirit of an entrepreneur who believes in building from nothing, taking risks, and making football — and business — more inclusive for all South Africans.