Farouk Khan, the founder of the renowned Stars of Africa football academy, has made a plea to PSL teams on football academies in SA.
Khan’s Stars of Africa, based in Johannesburg is one of football academies that groom youngsters into becoming some of the best players in the country.
Some of the top players that came out of the academy include the likes of Tokelo Rantie, May Mahlangu, Patrick Maswanganyi, Surprise Ralani, Luther Singh, Tefu Mashamaite, Kabelo Dlamini and Tshegofatso Nyama.
The former Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach has called on PSL teams to offer compensation for players developed by football academies.
This, in turn, will help academies grow in terms of improving their infrastructures, academy players’ wellbeing and getting the coaches all the necessary equipment they need.
FAROUK KHAN SAYS PSL TEAMS SHOULD COMPENSATE FOOTBALL ACADEMIES
“Legally, no one is indebted to give you that [compensation]. So it’s just a matter of principle; I think clubs need to start feeding the golden goose,” said Khan.
“The golden goose that lays that egg, you need to feed it. When the goose dies, where are you going to get your talent from?
“[Patrick Maswanganyi] was taken to trials at Cape Town City FC and Stellenbosch FC. They didn’t see his value. He went to SuperSport United, Andre Arendse kept him there, and when Gavin Hunt came, they signed him.
“He [Hunt] said, ‘I’ve never seen this talent’. I sent him a message that he was at Stars of Africa. At the end of the season, Orlando Pirates came, we didn’t get one cent, I can’t complain, I can’t have a recourse, I have other kids, I have to move on.
Khan further stated that a lack of compensation or investment in academies leads teams to sign foreign players at a high price. He gave an example of Mamelodi Sundowns.
“I heard that Sundowns signed a player last season for R50 million. That player won’t make it to the second division where he comes from, if he was so good he would have been in Europe.
“They perform here, but what does it say to us? If the same money was invested in us, can’t we produce better players? So we need to start re-investing, without finances there is no sport that will flourish.”
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