Aizer Chiefs defender Inácio Miguel has weighed in on the standard of South African football, detailing why he believes Betway Premiership stands above Angola’s top-flight league – Girabola.
Speaking from experience, the aggressive centre-back knows both worlds well. Miguel, 30, arrived in Mzansi in July 2024 from Petro de Luanda and has since become a key figure at Amakhosi.
The Portuguese-born Angolan says the biggest gap is not talent, but how the game is organised. He believes the South African league benefits from overseas influence, modern ideas, and professionalism across clubs, something that is lacking in Angola.
Miguel pointed to Kaizer Chiefs’ recent CAF Confederation Cup qualifying fixtures against Kabuscorp SCP as a definitive benchmark. Having witnessed the two sides clash over two legs, the defender noted a clear gulf in quality, further cementing his belief that South Africa serves as a superior springboard for players aiming for overseas moves.
INACIO MIGUEL: HOW THE BETWAY PREMIERSHIP IS STRONGER
“There is a massive difference [between the Betway Premiership and Gribola],” Miguel said on the Soccer Beat show. “I will not say quality of players, but quality of games. For me, in my personal opinion, it is one of the most developed leagues in Africa.
“There is a lot of organisation. There are a lot of players coming from overseas who bring their knowledge into the game, from different ideas. So I think the biggest difference is the organisation of the game.”
Miguel added: “We had the experience this season with Chiefs against Kabuscorp SCP, who are in the middle to bottom table in Angola. You saw in the second game that they lost the organisation and the focus. It is a complicated league because most of the teams are not professional.
“In South Africa, all of the teams are professional, and I think even in the NFD, some teams are professional, I don’t know, I am guessing.
“The big difference is the organisation of the game. Besides Petro [de Luanda] and [Clube Desportivo 1º] de Agosto, they are the biggest teams in Angola. There are no other teams with a connection to the game.
“I am not minimising the Angolan league, but there is a big difference in terms of knowing the game. Starting from the coaches and development. South Africa is a dream for Africans who want to be professional players. Playing in South Africa is also a big step towards playing overseas. We can see now how it is starting to happen,” Miguel added.
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