Edward Motale urges PSL clubs to pull up their socks

This dominance is underscored by the inclusion of eight players from Sundowns in the 23-man Bafana Bafana's Africa Cup of Nations squad set to take place in Ivory Coast on Saturday, as selected by Belgian coach Hugo Broos.

Motale, who achieved glory with the Soweto giants by clinching the CAF Champions League title in 1995, conveyed to SABC Sport that witnessing a single team contribute eight players to the senior national team would have been considered unprecedented during his active playing years.

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“It’s disheartening to observe the current composition of the Bafana squad, as it appears to resemble a one-man show. With 11 players coming from Sundowns, this imbalance raises concerns. It’s high time other teams step up their game, in our era, it was inconceivable for eight players to solely represent Kaizer Chiefs and Pirates; such a scenario was unimaginable,” expressed Motale highlighting his apprehensions.

“The prevalence of a single team dominating undermines the diversity and competitiveness of South African football. Sundowns ’success underscores the importance of hard work and its reward, while other PSL teams seem complacent. Instead of enjoying a leisurely bedtime, they should follow Sundowns ’example and strive for excellence. A one-team league is not in the best interest of South African football,”

Motale supported the coach’s decision to choose numerous players from the same opposition, asserting that the coach had no alternative due to the deficiency in quality from other teams in the league.

“The other teams need to raise their standard and refrain from making excuses. I recently heard complaints from teams about not having players in the national team. However, you can’t expect to be selected if you are not delivering in the national team performances on this stage. I stand by the coach’s decision; we’ve only chosen players based on their current performance, not just to fill slots. I hope that other teams take note and motivate their players to step up, fostering a more competitive league. We should aim for a dynamic competition, not a one-man spectacle. It’s crucial to emphasize that it’s not Sundowns’ fault if other teams are lethargic and lack competitiveness,” emphasized Motale.