Former Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena has hailed the Betway Premiership as “one of the most prestigious leagues in the world” that is churning out top-quality players making breakthroughs in overseas leagues.
South Africa used to have several players playing their trade in the English Premier League and other respected European leagues. But that trend dropped as Betway Premiership players have started dominating the Bafana Bafana squad.
That has supported arguments about the strength of the local league. However, recently, some players have started streaming abroad, although PSL stars still have a big say in the national team composition.
The likes of Relebohile Mofokeng, Thapelo Maseko, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Aden McCarthy, Ime Okon, Puso Dithejane, Samukelo Kabini and Olwethu Makhanya have earned themselves contracts from overseas clubs straight from the Betway Premiership.
Some of the players have made themselves key Bafana men, and that leaves Mokoena delighted that the local league is exporting quality players to the world.
“It shows that our Premier League and clubs are playing a massive role in giving these youngsters a chance to participate in one of the most prestigious leagues in the world, I would say,” Mokoena told FARPost in an interview.
“It’s really great for South African football or South African clubs and for the South African league.”
ADVANTAGE FOR BAFANA COACH MOSIMANE HAVING PSL PLAYERS MOVING OVERSEAS
In some matches in recent years, PSL players have outperformed Bafana’s African opponents who are dominated by Europe-based stars. That includes eliminating a star-studded Morocco from the 2023 AFCON tournament after the North Africans arrived at the finals boasting of reaching the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals.
A Nigeria side made up of a galaxy of Europe-based stars was also overshadowed by Bafana during the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign. This was despite South Africa having been deducted three points for fielding an ineligible Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho.
However, former Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth defender Mokoena wants more PSL players to move to Europe, and he feels that would further strengthen Bafana.
“That will play a massive role in giving Pitso Mosimane a big hag by having quite a lot of players who are playing abroad. You have mentioned Mbokazi, Relebohile is also out there, Aden is out there as well,” South Africa’s 2010 World Cup captain went on.
“We have quite a lot of players now whom we can say are playing abroad, but it’s important that they understand that when they play abroad they are foreigners. So they need to work harder than domestic players.
“You look at the countries that play at the Afruca Cup of Nations, you have countries like Ivory Coast, Senegal, and they probably have 70 percent of their players abroad. Nigeria are even worse.
“So, the more players we have out there, the better experience they will bring to South African football, especially in the national team. But, of course, in the national team, coach Pitso Mosimane is the one who will make the final decision.”
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