SAFA has turned its spotlight towards the DStv Premiership‘s foreign goalkeepers, evaluating the potential stifling effect these international stars might be having on the emergence of homegrown goalkeeping talent.
SAFA Technical Director Walter Steenbok confirmed that the country’s football mother body is monitoring the influence of foreign goalkeepers in the local game.
In past years, there has been debate around the state of SA goalkeeping, with concerns that the influx of foreign shot-stoppers curtails the emergence of local talent.
At AFCON 2023 which concluded on the 11th of February 2024, five foreign goalkeepers from the PSL participated.
Stanley Nwabali of Chippa United played for Nigeria, while Sekhukhune United’s Badra Sangare was in the Ivory Coast squad. Orlando Pirates’ Richard Ofori guarded goals for Ghana while Polokwane City’s Manuel Sapunga made the grade for Equatorial Guinea. Namibia’s number one Lloyd Kazapua of Chippa United also featured for his country.
Overall, the DStv Premiership has a total of 15 foreign goalkeepers, half of whom play regularly for their respective clubs.
The other foreign goalkeepers in the SA elite league are Denis Onyango [Mamelodi Sundowns from Uganda], Washington Arubi [SuperSport United from Zimbabwe], Vasilije Kolak [TS Galaxy from Bosnia-Herzegovina], Fiacre Ntwari [TS Galaxy from Rwanda], Ismail Watenga [Golden Arrows from Uganda], Olufemi Kayode [Golden Arrows from Nigeria], Daniel Akpeyi [Moroka Swallows from Nigeria], Hugo Nyame [Royal AM from Cameroon], Salim Magoola [Richards Bay from Uganda], and Sam Ramsbottom [Cape Town Spurs from England].
The Egyptian Football Association [EFA] banned clubs from signing foreign goalkeepers across all domestic leagues in their country. The rule was effective from the 2009/10 season.
EFA’s decision came after former Egypt coach Hassan Shehata spoke about the lack of quality goalkeepers in Egypt.
SAFA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR WALTER STEENBOK ON FOREIGN GOALKEEPERS
“Look, it’s out in the open that the majority of the professional teams in the league has many foreign goalkeepers, who are of course starting you know,” said Steenbok.
“As much as we have a responsibility to develop the game, not only for South Africa but also for the whole continent. We need to be mindful of the effects and the huge risk that this will have.
“We are going to monitor it this year. This is me saying that we are going to monitor this because there’s nothing that we have done in the technical division that we have not monitored.”
‘IF THERE’S A NEED FOR US TO INTERVENE, WE’LL INTERVENE’
Steenbok went on to say that if there’s a need for SAFA to intervene in this matter, they will do so just as they did with the Hollywoodbets Super League.
“If there’s a need for us to intervene, we will come back and intervene. You’ve seen what we have done in the Hollywoodbets Super League, where we have said in 2024/25 we are completely closing for the foreign goalkeepers because of the impact that it has on Banyana Banyana,” he added.
“Also, the one in PSL we are going to monitor it very closely and if there’s a need for us to be able to take this matter to the national technical committee for deliberation and direction, we are going to do that.”
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