Others look on in envy at the Patrice Soccer League

IT’S been called the Pirates Soccer League and the Pretoria Soccer League, but the PSL might as easily be renamed the Patrice Soccer League if Mamelodi Sundowns continue buying and loaning out players.

When Maritzburg United lined up against Patrice Motsepe’s Brazilians in a league game in Pretoria on Friday night, they missed seven players — three on loan from Downs and four due to foreign players’ work-permit issues.

United’s plight again raises the question of the fairness of Downs buying up the 52 players they have on their books, according to website Transfermarkt — including 15 more signings this season — and loaning out most of them. These players are contractually tied from facing Downs.

And yet, the defending champions and their coach, Pitso Mosimane, are not breaking any rules, a fact acknowledged by opposition PSL coaches.

“They can do what they like,” Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt said. “[Although] I don’t know about the financial fair play. I mean, Sundowns could control the whole league because they’ve got the financial clout to. And it looks like maybe that’s their intention — I don’t know.”

Hunt believes a cap on squad sizes would be in the interests of the health of football.

University of Pretoria coach Steve Barker said Downs are following a global trend. “Maybe it’s worth considering the English FA rule where clubs can’t name more than 17 non-homegrown players over 21 in a squad of 25. That still allows big clubs to buy the best, but at least there’s a cap,” he said.

PSL chairman Irvin Khoza said the league is unlikely to act unless it receives official requests from clubs, but did point to the example of Uefa, which introduced financial fair play rules in 2012.

“I’m open-minded for any club to request for the matter to be discussed by the board of governors,” Khoza said. “In the instance of Uefa, it was not the clubs that came up with a request but [president Michel] Platini himself.”

Mosimane said he is only continuing the culture of one of the richest clubs in Africa.

“And it doesn’t necessarily advantage us because we’ve had the best in the past, but struggled to win trophies. It’s about 11 against 11 and only three substitutes, no matter the quality on the bench. Our advantage is … we have cover when we get serious injuries. I found this culture here and will carry it on because I am a Sundowns employee. A big team must be dominant in the market.”

Mosimane has been at the other end of Downs’ big spending. “When I was at SuperSport United my way was to go for cups, like Platinum Stars. Can you beat Sundowns over 30 games? No chance. Once-off — yes. SuperSport looked to youth and got free agents by offering them good money.” CULTURE: Downs coach Pitso Mosimane says he’s only following the club rules