PSL clubs seem to be realising the importance of forming strategic partnerships with European clubs in an effort of uplifting the standard of football in South Africa.

Some of these partnerships include relationships between clubs like SuperSport United and Tottenham Hotspurs, Ajax Cape Town and their mother club Ajax Amsterdam and I recall one between Bloemfontein Celtic as well as Sporting Lisbon though I’m not sure if it is still ongoing.

These partnerships allowed development players from the PSL clubs to be exposed to coaching clinics from development coaches from European coaches. The Urban Warriors benefited from their relationship with Ajax Amsterdam from having fringe players come down to the Cape and playing for a season or two in the PSL and visa versa Ajax Cape Town players being selected to attend trial at the mother club.

It would be nice to see more reserves players from Europe applying their trade here in Mzansi as this will really help South African footballers and coaches realise the true differences between a player playing reserve football in Europe and a player playing PSL football in South Africa.