Strong PSL representation at African Club Association launch

Competitively, currently ranked fourth in the latest Confederation of African Football (CAF) rankings, behind the Egyptian Premier League, Morocco’s Botola Pro League, and Algeria’s Ligue 1, the PSL remains one league in Sub-Saharan Africa, commercially and competitively. 

SABC Sport has learnt the PSL will be represented by its Acting Chief Executive Officer member Mato Madlala, Cape Town City Chairman and Executive Committee (EXCO) member John Comitis as well as TS Galaxy President Tim Sukazi. Kaizer Chiefs Marketing Director Jessica Motaung, who also sits in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and South African Football Association (SAFA) women’s committee will also be in attendance, representing the club as well as continental duties. 

Modeled on the all-powerful European Club Association (ECA), a structure that houses some of the best football clubs in the world like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Manchester City, Paris St Germain, Juventus, Bayern München, just to count a few, the ACA is seen as a body that would transform club football in the continent.

African clubs have never spoken in one voice about the growth of the game in this vast continent of more than one billion people, where the sport is by far the most popular to the young and old. 

A brainchild of CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who has been involved in professional football club ownership for over two decades, the ACA aims to bring together stakeholders from across the African football landscape to the CAF statement.

“It aims to foster collaboration, innovation, and excellence within the continent’s club football scene,” the statement continues to read. 

During this launch, the more than 60 clubs and leagues that would be in attendance are also expected to elect the new Chairperson of the ACA. A preparatory meeting was held in October where Motsepe briefed the clubs that were in attendance about the formation of this new club structure.

Part of the ACA's objectives are to:

• Protect and promote the interest of African Football clubs
• Ensure that African Football clubs are commercially viable, globally competitive and profitable
• Ensure that Referees, Match Commissioners and VAR operators are respected, credible, independent and world-class
• Build Partnerships with sponsors, the private sector and governments to build stadiums that comply with CAF and FIFA standards and other football infrastructure and facilitate in each of the 54 CAF Member Associations
• Develop African youth talent, academies for boys and girls, and improve the quality of African club football to be world-class

With the PSL, set to continue its dominance as the league of choice in the continent (through player representation) during the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast in January and February 2024, their strong presence in the ACA launch will send a message of a positive and big role they can play and they hold in the growth of club football in Arica. 

The DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns are also the inaugural winners of the African Football League (AFL) and one of the feared teams on the continent.