We
need age quota system in the Premier Soccer League (PSL). The South African
Football Association (SAFA) must promulgate the mandatory law for each and
every PSL team to start each every game with 3 youngsters below the age of 20.
Many youngsters are playing regularly in many African leagues.
The
law will force the teams to invest in youth development which will contribute
to an improve Premier Soccer League standard of play and also Bafana Bafana. The button of youth
development must be passed to the teams as SAFA is toothless and ineffective on
youth development related matters.
Young
talent is not taken serious by our Premier Soccer League teams. Our league is full of aging
players playing week and week out.
We
enjoyed watching Steve Lekoelea and Mkhanyiseli Siwahla at the tender age of 15
but now teens have disappeared in the PSL due to lack of confidence in young
talent. We recently lost Nhlakanipho
Ntuli to Holland who was never given a chance by Orlando Pirates despite his
enormous talent.
SuperSport
United and Ajax Cape Town have done well to this end by unleashing teen stars
in their teams. Experience is the best teacher but youth is the future.