Experienced coach Roger De Sa has explained why players in the PSL see no point in moving to European clubs.
The former Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits mentor is no stranger to international football, having served as the assistant coach of Qatar and Iran in recent jobs.
South Africa has arguably the most talented footballers in Africa but there’s a limited number of players who ply their trade overseas.
In the past 2023 AFCON, Bafana Bafana had Mihlali Mayambela and Sphephelo Sithole in the squad as the only two players who are playing in Europe. Mayambela is in the books of Cypriot club Aris Limassol, while Sithole turns out for C.D Tondela Portugal’s second division.
Meanwhile, Cassius Mailula and Olwethu Makhanya managed to complete moves away from the DStv Premiership at the end of last season. Both players switched to Major League Soccer [MLS] in the USA.
ROGER DE SA REVEALS WHY FEW PSL PLAYERS MOVE TO EUROPE
With a handful of South African players attracting interest from Europe after clinching the bronze medal at Africa’s showpiece in Ivory Coast, Roger De Sa has claimed that local-based players earn a lot of money; hence, they don’t move abroad.
“There are reasons why few players move to Europe, and money is part of it. After the AFCON, most South African players attracted interest,” De Sa told FARPost.
“But players see no point in going to Europe because they get paid a lot of money. If you play for Sundowns and join a middle-table team in England, you might as well stay at Sundowns.
“People think playing in Europe comes with a lot of money, which is not the case because there are teams that pay like PSL teams.
“I think going to Europe is also about sacrifices that you make when you move there, and sometimes, I feel like our players are not ready for those sacrifices.”
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