SOUTH AFRICAN PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE SCOOP

By Kabelo Mafiri

The new PSL sponsorship for the next three years, starting this upcoming season, via formfourresults.com.

With the return of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in South Africa, fans anticipate an enjoyable campaign. As with every season, the country expects the 'big three' to rise up and deliver a season to remember. The league's sponsorship has seen a significant adjustment ahead of the next season.

The PSL committee decided to sever ties with DStv sponsorship prior to the upcoming season for reasons that were not disclosed. Several sports journalists, including Austin Ditlhobolo, Lorenz Kohler, and Mazola Molefe, have stated that there have been hints from inside the board committee that the reason for the change was money-related concerns between the league and the sponsor (DStv). It appeared that DStv was unable to meet the numbers that Betway had provided in their bid to take over as the new league sponsor. It doesn't seem shocking, especially in light of the number that the PSL committee and Betway decided upon. PSL chairperson Dr Irvin Khoza has revealed that the contract costs R900 million. With this amount of money, many supporters around the country expect that the league will be able to purchase VAR rights and licenses, allowing the country's officiating to improve. Meanwhile, others hope it will assist PSL teams in improving the quality of the investment they make in training facilities, as well as help them pay their bills.

The new Kaizer Chiefs FC coach ahead of the new season after being confirmed last month while in Turkey for pre-season with the squad. Nasreddine Nabi, via afrik-foot.com.

In the midst of the league's sponsorship change, the country's biggest club was also busy strengthening its team, adding fresh faces ahead of the new season. Kaizer Chiefs is the country's most extensive and most successful team in terms of fan base and trophies. However, it is no secret that they have been an awful club for the past ten years, winning no trophies and losing their identity in terms of playing style. As a result, last season was the most disappointing season in their history, finishing in tenth place on the log, narrowly outside the top eight.

Despite being the worst big team in the country for a decade, the fans haven't given up on their club and continue to support it. Fans have long cried to management over the appointment of an outstanding tactician. Kaizer Motaung Junior, the sporting director of the club, chose to listen to the fans for the first time in ten years and recruited Tunisian tactician Nasreddine Nabi.

The Tunisian tactician arrived with his technical team to help revive Kaizer Chiefs, the "sleeping giant". Fans are optimistic about him because of his track record of brilliance. His most successful coaching experience was with Young Africans SC in Tanzania. That’s where he won four titles in two years at the club before transferring to Morocco for the Association's Sports of Forces Armed Royal (AS FAR), where he demonstrated his ability by losing only two games all season but surrendering the league to Raja Casablanca by a single point.

Following Nabi's appointment, the team has signed a few new players to help it reach its goals for the upcoming season. The attacking midfielder Gaston Sirino from Mamelodi Sundowns and the defender Rushwin Dortley from Cape Town Spurs are two of the new players who fans are excited to wear the black and gold jersey because they have been loved by club fans for years.

Mamelodi Sundowns after clinching the 2023/24 Dstv Premiership in Loftus stadium, via snl24.com.

With the new season upon us, will Mamelodi Sundowns, nicknamed Masandawana, maintain their dominance after winning six PSL titles in a row and setting a new record, or will Orlando Pirates finally find the consistency they've been lacking in their play and go all the way, or will coach Nabi and his troops surprise the entire country by doing the unthinkable? As of now, it all remains a mystery, but we should expect a thrilling 2024/25 season, with the first game being a Tshwane derby between Masandawana and SuperSport United on 14 September.