Ten years ago, a quiet but significant shift began in South African football. With modest crowds and a bold ambition, the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) launched in 2014 as a youth league that aimed to do more than fill benches - it was built to create careers. A decade later, that vision has delivered beyond expectation. The DDC is no longer just a feeder league; it’s a national pipeline, a proven development platform, and a flagship example of what long-term investment in youth can achieve.
Since its inception, over 350 players have graduated from the DDC to senior PSL teams, while more than 260 have gone on to represent South Africa at national level. These aren’t just statistics, they are the foundation of today’s Bafana Bafana squad. Teboho Mokoena, Yusuf Maart, Lyle Foster, Relebohile Mofokeng - all of them passed through the DDC before earning international acclaim.
A Milestone Season
The 2024/25 season marked the league’s 10th anniversary, and fittingly, it was one of its most memorable yet. Emile Witbooi, at just 16 years, six months and five days, became the youngest player to debut in the PSL - a product of Cape Town City’s Diski squad and living proof of the league’s role in fast-tracking talent. Orlando Pirates’ Mbekezeli Mbokazi made headlines with a string of dominant performances, prompting comparisons to OJ Mabizela. Mohau Nkota and Malibongwe Mdletshe also transitioned seamlessly into senior football, scoring on debut and carrying the composure and confidence typical of players groomed through the DDC.
This pipeline of talent is the result of deliberate strategy and sustained backing. MultiChoice, through a R350 million investment over the past decade, has ensured that the league is about more than just match day logistics. It has funded travel, broadcast production, professional media exposure and the kind of environment that dignifies every player’s journey. For many young footballers, the DDC offers first-time experiences: flying across the country to play, wearing professional kits with their names on the back, watching themselves score on national television. These moments don’t just build athletes - they build self-belief.
Growing the game and the industry
The league’s contribution doesn’t stop at developing footballers. As part of MultiChoice’s broader ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy, the DDC has evolved into a platform that also nurtures young professionals in broadcasting, media and production. Structured internships and live-match experience have seen aspiring camera operators, producers, and presenters gain critical industry skills - while community TV channels benefit from free-to-air rights, ensuring more regions can share in the stories of local heroes.
This season, the league integrated campaigns such as The Earthshot Prize into its calendar, aligning sport with climate awareness and social impact. The digital series #SisazoPhaka captured raw, emotional stories of players’ journeys from overlooked talents to national prospects - humanising the league and giving fans deeper insight into the people behind the shirts.
Yet, for all the off-pitch innovation, the football remains at the heart of it all. During the 2024/25 campaign alone, 19 players were promoted to senior PSL squads. Out of 46 players selected for South Africa’s U17 and U20 national teams, 23 came from Diski squads. The U20 team, powered largely by DDC alumni, made history by winning the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time - a continental breakthrough that underlined the competitive standard of the league and its readiness to produce elite talent.
The DDC has also expanded its scope through the Players Transition Programme, offering participants training in financial literacy, mental wellness, entrepreneurship and career development. Former players have gone on to become coaches, business owners, media personalities and graduates - testament to a system that prepares young people not just for the next game, but for life after football.
As the DDC enters its second decade, its impact is undeniable. In townships, at school fields, and in training centres across the country, the league has become a symbol of hope and opportunity. Young players now grow up knowing there is a visible, credible path from their local community to professional football - one built on merit, consistency, and national exposure.
More than a football league, the DDC is a case study in what can be achieved when sport is used with purpose. It uplifts individuals, strengthens communities, and proves that when you invest in young people, on and off the field - the results speak for themselves.
To learn more about MultiChoice’s ESG initiatives and the role of the DDC in youth development, download the full 2025 ESG Report at EnrichingLives
