SOCCER: Teams acclaim Diski Challenge

THE new MultiChoice Diski Challenge reserve league can transform the way Premier Soccer League (PSL) coaches introduce youngsters to their first teams, say PSL coaches and administrators.

Apart from managing players returning from injury, the Diski Challenge, an under-23 league that allows for three overage players, allows Premier Soccer League teams to expose young players to competitive, televised games.

“I think it’s going to transform local football,” said SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews. “Look at all the players sitting on the sidelines in the PSL.

“I’ve got youngsters like Andile Fikizolo, Morne Nel and Brandon Dean who don’t qualify to play for the under-19s any more, but they’re not getting game time for the first team. So they end up watching football for a few years and going backwards.

“I believe the reserve league will result in a massive drop in the average age of players in the PSL.”

Platinum Stars coach Allan Freese sees the benefits the reserve league can have for PSL coaches. “There (are) some boys we’ve seen doing well who we never saw anywhere before.

“We also have players who sometimes don’t play for the whole season. So when we need them to play it’s a problem.

“We try to organise friendly games, but those are not so competitive. By giving players an opportunity to play, you can see, maybe I can use this man, maybe give someone in the first team a break.”

The reserve league gives PSL clubs a platform to give players who have been promoted from their youth structures a chance to play and push for a place in the first team.

“I think it’s a brilliant concept that’s long overdue,” said Bidvest Wits CEO Jose Ferreira. “I like the format — it exposes our young players.

“I’m disappointed some teams have gone with some older players. But by and large most clubs have respected the concept, which is fantastic.

“In the past clubs had to loan young players to NFD (National First Division) clubs to get game time. Now they can get that game time within our own structures.

“Sometimes coaches have doubts about a player in a more competitive, serious environment. Now they can have a look at them in a competitive game.”