So much hype has already been created over the 2011/2012 Absa premiership league, which starts this weekend, that the Premier Soccer League shouldn’t have to do anything more to attract spectators.
The PSL’s newly appointed chief executive Zola Majavu talks a good game and, with Happy Ntshingila, the Absa sponsorship marketing guru, has come up with impressive innovations that will go a long way to getting bums on seats at the club matches.
“The first port of call will be to make our stadiums safe and ensure that our matches become family events,” said Majavu. “And we will also introduce incentives for soccer fans, which will come in a number of surprises — when the league gets underway.
“We would also like to reintroduce the Miss PSL initiative, which had become very popular on television in its last year.
“But teams also need to play entertaining football that will get people back into the stadiums. That way we will increase the number of supporters at our games,” he said.
The smart money, of course, is on the defending champions Orlando Pirates, who pulled a fast one last season by sneaking past Ajax Cape Town on the last day of the season to take what was the tightest league race in years.
Kaizer Chiefs finally dug into their pockets and, like their rivals, delved into the transfer market and secured competent Tefu Mashamaite and Bernard Parker. They have a coach who has been in charge for three years, a settled squad (excluding Knowledge Musona and Valery Nahayo, who have been transferred to Germany and Belgium respectively), and youngsters such as George Lebese and Mandla Masango.
In the past, Sundowns have invaded the transfer market and grabbed almost anyone who was on offer — and burned their fingers — but this time they seem to have learned their lesson and bought wisely, bringing in players who could add value. Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Gbolahan Salami, Musa Nyatama and Simba Sithole should all bring much-needed power and stability and, with Johan Neeskens brought in as the coach, the “Brazilians” could eventually shed their bridesmaids image.
They looked rusty and were rattled by an uncompromising Bloemfontein Celtic in a cup game last week and, with Siyanda Xulu sidelined for the next six weeks, they need to tighten up their defence pretty quickly. They open their campaign against the team that ruined their charge for the league championship last year, AmaZulu, and, as always, sparks usually fly whenever these two teams come face to face.
When Pirates open the defence of their title away to Black Leopards this weekend, the question uppermost in the minds of followers will be whether Benni McCarthy will live up to expectations should he be given a run at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
No matter how you look at it, and even if you disagree with his views at times, McCarthy is a European Champions league winner and few have forgotten the two classic goals he scored against Manchester United. Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson tried to lure McCarthy to Old Trafford and Jose Mourinho also failed in his attempt to bring the Bafana Bafana top goal-scorer to Stamford Bridge. Anyone who could attract that kind of attention from some of the world’s greatest managers must be a special talent.
Some feel that bringing McCarthy to Parktown is a clever marketing strategy by the shrewd Pirates chairman, Irvin Khoza — McCarthy has hogged the headlines since he agreed to a two-year deal with Pirates. He has basked in the media attention and really talked the talk in a bid to convince Pirates supporters that he will deliver on his promise to bang in the goals for the league champions.
Kaizer Chiefs have a date with Jomo Cosmos in their season opener and the spotlight will be on Parker, the former FC Twente forward who has returned to where it all started, albeit not with Thanda Royal Zulu, when he really set the local scene alight.
Ajax Cape Town last week dismantled SuperSport United, handing the former league winners a 5-2 beating, which showed that there is life after Thulani Serero, who has joined Ajax Amsterdam.
The teams that finished in the top five last year will still dominate the league, although they could be pushed harder by the likes of Moroka Swallows, Bidvest Wits (who signed Mbulelo Mabizela this week) and the Free State Stars.
The Free State Stars signed three Togolese players — Zakari Morou, Sadate Ouro Akorika and Saname Wome — and a host of local players, including former Baroka FC attacking midfielder Katlego Mashego. Coach Steve Komphela has promised that “Ea Lla Koto” could find themselves boxing in the same division as the country’s heavyweights this season.