The new African Super League which is scheduled to go live in August next year, is going to be a $100 million( over R1.7 billion) affair which will be the biggest financial sporting league Africa has ever seen!
As the saying goes, money talks, and the money means that the three PSL teams that are mooted to be participating in the 24 team invitation-only league competition, will each be guaranteed a large carrot in order to ensure their commitment. CAF, under the leadership of Mamelodi Sundowns owner, Patrice Motsepe, have invited the big names of African football to make up the 24 teams that comprise the African Super League, and it goes without saying that Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are the three PSL invitees.
The big question however remains, is the ASL good for Bucs, Chiefs, Sundowns and the PSL? That’s a questions that PSL club owners, outside of the big three that This is Football have spoken to, have only answered to under the condition of anonymity.
Statements made to This Is Football generally all started along the lines of, “we have not heard anything official from the league”, “we don’t know anything about it” to “it will never happen”, “it will never work due to logistics”, “they will never raise that kind of money “.
What followed next, virtually from all the club officials spoken to was along similar negative lines, with the most common statements being along the lines of, “it will be bad for the PSL”, “we won’t allow it”, “we won’t vote for it” and invariable sentiment ended on the note that, ”the big teams will probably make a decision based on what is good for themselves and not the rest of the teams” and “money talks in the PSL “.
The This is Football – Africa team will put this saga on the top of our agenda. We will look at all sides of the story so be sure to join us as we unfold the facts.
Will the ASL benefit African football and the PSL? What are your thoughts and comments?