A 16-team league hasn’t benefited South African football at all.
The chopping and changing of coaches will continue as, in South Africa, we believe that we are on the same level as the Brazil, Germany and other top countries, but, in reality, we are not.
The 16-team in the league is killing our football and the PSL should revisit this issue before it is too late. Yes, our league looks competitive, but we are sacrificing the development of players for Bafana Bafana. There is no time to introduce or develop young players in this league and if teams try to develop, they risk being relegated to the NFD. In this league, the bottom teams fight to the last games to save their status, so where is the time to develop?
The MDC helps, but we want those players in the elite league. The 16-team league always uses tried and tested players, which sacrifices developing players. We have lost many good teams that were good in developing players, like Jomo Cosmos and Free State Stars are also running the risk of relegation. Even Ajax Cape Town could follow in years to come.
Orlando Pirates are no longer effective in bringing their development players and Kaizer Chiefs are still looking for the next Jabu Pule. Mamelodi Sundowns is the only team that is comfortable enough in their position to promote from their development teams. But now, the teams buy from those teams that are still trying to develop players and where are those teams now?
Eighteen teams will lift our football to where it used to be and we have no excuse, as we have many stadiums to increase.
This will make teams develop their brand of football, and only a few teams in the PSL have a brand or identity the others try to emulate every year.
Do you think the PSL should be an 18-team league?
*This article was written by a Soccer Laduma reader and reflects their opinion, not that of Soccer Laduma.
