Betting company Hollywoodbets have not given up on teaming up with the Premier Soccer League even though they have been beaten to the punch by rival betting company SuperSportBet, who have secured both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates as partners.
As reported in edition 1356, Soccer Laduma has been informed that Hollywoodbets, sponsors of the national women's league, were looking at expanding their foothold by reaching out to the men's professional wing when their rivals linked up with the two clubs with the biggest support base in the country.
However, following the announcement of the partnership between SuperSport Bet and both Bucs and Amakhosi, the KwaZulu-Natal-based company is still keen on sponsoring the League and bringing AmaZulu FC to their fold.
According to Siya sources, they are also looking at another Gauteng-based topflight club to bring into their stable after failing to secure a partnership with the two Soweto giants. Indications from sources are that should there be no conflict of business with the company entering the PSL space, they could bring much-needed injection to most cash-strapped clubs during what is a financially demanding period.
Moroka Swallows have already been hit with a R1-million fine, R600 000 of which has been suspended for 24 months, for failing to honour two league fixtures citing lack of adequate funds to pay their players before the end of December last year.
In the past, the PSL has been reluctant to embrace certain sponsors into their empire whom they felt were direct rivals to their business partners, explaining that they were protecting their business brand from exploitation and or ambush marketers. However, maybe if more companies are willing to pump money into football, provided they meet the criteria required, the better for the development of local football.
