PSL standard is regressing

I am not surprised that South African teams are knocked out in the early stages of the African competitions. The problem is that South Africans are in denial that we have weak teams but strong financial muscles league and best stadium infrastructure.

The standard of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) has been assumed to be amongst the best in the continent which is not true.  We have weak league which resulted in weak Bafana Bafana. Many of our players lack proper development to compete in the highest level.

It is disheartening that the PSL leading goalscorer after 22 games has mere 10 goals which justify lack of quality in the league.

PSL teams and the South African Football Association (SAFA) must conduct in depth research into youth football to keep up with international standards.

Too much adoption of foreign methodologies into our football resulting in Mzansi diski of flair and skills to be termed barbaric and backward.

For South Africa to be considered the best in Africa, we must rebuild from scratch.  We must invest in youth. Our league is aging with few teenagers playing coupled with average foreign players not adding any value to improve the standard of football.

Libya quietly invested good money in youth development despite civil war and are now reaping the rewards. They won the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and Ahly Benghazi knocked out defending champions Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League this past weekend. Money and good stadiums can’t guarantee success but good youth development structures can guarantee success.

By Owen Mundalamo