A chairman and head coach of a Hollywoodbets Super League side has raised concerns about his side’s financial woes.
The Super League is yet to be professionalised, and currently runs as a semi-professional league. This means the league is in between being an amateur and a professional league.
And therefore, unlike the PSL, a professional league, the Super League doesn’t have the same financial muscle to support its teams.
Because of this, most teams in the league struggle to pay their players, barring clubs with similar financial strength as Sundowns Ladies.
In the last couple of months, the topic of professionalising of the league has been on the forefront, however, so far, there hasn’t been any signs of it happening.
In the meantime, most clubs in the Super league are struggling to sustain their clubs financially.
Clubs in the league do receive grant from Hollywoodbets but it is unclear how much.
THE RECENT SUPER LEAGUE SIDE THAT OUTED THEIR FINANCIAL STRUGGLES
Recently, the chairman and head coach of First Touch Academy, Mmowa Kekana, came out and addressed this issue on SABC one, after his side lost 3-0 to Richmond United on Sunday, 23 April.
First Touch is currently struggling in the league, and is currently at the bottom of the league, on five points, after 10 games.
Kekana, revealed that the reason he is the coach of his club and the chairman, is because of the financial issues his side face.
FIRST TOUCH CHAIRMAN ON THE FINANCIAL WOES THE CLUB FACE
“We run the team out of our own money. And It is very difficult to hire the coach when the players are not getting paid,” said Kekana on SABC one.
“You pay the coach, and what about the players? You see, you do something that is not correct. That’s why I take on to be a coach and also chairman.
“Those ladies, need money, if you can check the group that plays for Hollywood, they come from a poor background.
“Then I cannot give [money to] the individual within the team. One get paid, and some are not getting paid,”
Kekana also explained how the logistics in the league are taking a toll on the club financially.
“That’s why I am coaching and also chairman. I am not regretting that because it doesn’t make sense to hire somebody to monitor the players, when the players need money,” he added.
“And I will end up fighting with that coach. Because if you see, we are traveling a lot.
“Even now, this month, we are traveling twice. And at the same time, I went to Cape Town, East London, and UJ.
“Three aways, money is not there the coach needs to get paid, the players need food, they need club house, they need sanitary towels, it is difficult for us,” concluded Kekana.
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