Business tycoons Tokyo Sexwale and Patrice Motsepe’s involvement in local soccer has been described as a positive step to end the sport’s Cinderella reputation in South Africa.
”We commend Patrice Motsepe and Tokyo Sexwale and others who have positively responded to the challenge of ending football’s reputation as a Cinderella sport in this country,” said Mpumalanga Premier Thabang Makwetla at the official launch of Sexwale’s Mvela Golden League (MGL) in Nelspruit at the weekend.
Sexwale is the former premier of Gauteng. He and Motsepe are two successful black entrepreneurs who have invested millions in local football. Motsepe owns Mamelodi Sundowns.
”These are exciting times when we see the potential for black economic empowerment to touch the lives of our people in such a positive manner,” said Makwetla.
”We welcome the decision by previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs to support sport and football in particular.
”The leadership of Mvela League have displayed great sensitivity to the challenges facing South Africa.
”This reflects a valuable step in rooting soccer as indisputable game of the multitude.”
He also describing the launch in Nelspruit as the start of his province’s crusade of reclaiming its forgotten history as a thriving soccer region.
”Soccer is our rightful heritage,” he said. ”We are proud and honoured to be associated with this launch which takes place at a time when we see our country’s competitive spirit rejuvenated once again, and I wish to congratulate Safa [the South African Football Association], Mvelaphanda and PSL [the Premier Soccer League].”
He said the MGL is truly a major boost to the sport at provincial and local levels.
”We hope that in partnership with local government, and ourselves as a provincial government, we will see improvements in infrastructure and the general level of the game in the province,” he said. — Sapa