‘PSL should form part of La Liga’
Bid to see local players in Spain
La Liga Africa director Antonio Barradas wants the PSL to form part of their longstanding relationship with Safa, believing the PSL involvement would be the catalyst for local players to move to Spain easily.
Speaking at the Future Champions Gauteng International Tournament media conference at Soweto’s Nike Centre yesterday, Barradas felt if PSL can join forces with La Liga and Safa, that can pave the way for local players to ply their trade in Spain.
“We have invited the PSL to work with us but we have not been successful. I think if they can come on board like Safa did, we would see South African players going to play in Spain,” Barradas said.
“I hope that with time they’ll realise what La Liga is doing for African football. It’s not about us coming here to teach, but it’s about exchanging ideas in making sure we develop football.”
The Future Champions Gauteng International Tournament have selected four aspiring SA footballers to go to Barcelona in Spain for a weeklong football development programme before the end of this month. Twins Nkanyiso and Nkanyezi Maphosa, Zara Wilkinson and Moosa Sahail are winners of this initiative.
The Maphosa twins, 17, are Grade 11 pupils at Nirvana Secondary School in Lenasia, Soweto. Nkanyiso hopes this trip to Spain will play a huge role in nurturing them as budding stars. He describes himself as a “speedy left-winger”.
“We are excited to be part of this programme. I think this trip will improve us as young players. Spain is known for their brilliant football with their clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona dominating.
“So we want to have that feel as to why they are doing well in football,” Nkanyiso said.
“I am a speedy left-winger. I have big dreams of playing in Europe. I am looking up to players like Kylian Mbappe [Paris Saint Germain and France star] and our very own Percy Tau. I like to take on defenders and express my skills,” he boasted.
We’ve invited PSL to work with us but we have failed