Motsepe to sponsor NFD

Irvin Khoza had to do the sponsorship version of a last minute substitution, as the Premier Soccer League chairman announced yesterday that multi-billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe (above) had come in at the 11th hour to rescue the National First Division (NFD).

GladAfrica, the sponsors who signed a five-year deal in 2019, pulled out of their agreement, leaving a void that needed to be filled hastily.

Khoza managed to broker a five-year deal with the Confederation of African Football president and the second-tier league will now be known as the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

The influence Motsepe has over South African football and the continental game has steadily grown, with the owner of Mamelodi Sundowns also sponsoring the third-tier of the domestic game, the ABC Motsepe League.

GladAfrica had pumped R3 million a season into the NFD and it remains to be seen how much the Motsepe Foundation will spend.

“The exco of the PSL will discuss the issues of prize money and they will announce it at the right time. Football creates thousands of jobs in the country and it is part of the deep obligation that we have,” said Mostepe at a press conference in Johannesburg yesterday.

“We can’t have rich families succeeding and living comfortably side-by-side with poor people who are unemployed and marginalised,” he added.

While it was relatively easy for Khoza to convince Motsepe to sponsor the division, there is plenty of work to be done but the Motsepe Foundation is unique because football is close to their hearts because they come from the townships, they understand the significance of football and the spiritual life of our people,” said Khoza.

Khoza says he is confident that the Motsepe Foundation is currently the best option.