‘Juniors need own leagues’

After the successful introduction of a reserve league, Orlando Pirates development director and former Peruvian international Augusto Palacios (above) believes it is vital for the PSL to set up a series of leagues at junior level.

And, in supporting this plea, Palacios points to the current Fortune stars event that is being concluded with the presence of a variety of foreign teams in a revealing Under-17 tournament in Soweto.

“The annual event is of great value to our young prospects,” added Palacios, “not only for the experience gained, but learning from the assortment of different styles and patterns.

“But playing at this level once a year is not enough, and we have seen the advantages of teams who play at competitive level from a much earlier age than our players.

“Most of the visiting teams have started playing competitively as early as competing in Under-10, 12, 14 and 16 leagues,” he added, “and this means our players are starting at a disadvantage while not having the same level of experience that would be available if the PSL followed suit and introduced their own junior events”.

Palacios said it constituted a situation whereby young South African players started their careers “behind the starting line” compared to their counterparts in sophisticated foreign countries – and making up the leeway extended to the senior level of the game as well.

“It’s a handicap we must attend to and eliminate,” said Palacios.