In the aftermath of the situation at Kaizer Chiefs, an oft-asked question has again re-surfaced: Isn’t it time for the Premier Soccer League (PSL) to introduce a salary cap?
With the financial demands of players reaching ridiculous levels, the boss of PSL champions Chiefs, Kaizer Motaung, has had enough. At a press conference earlier this week, at which Chiefs released a number of top footballers, Motaung said: “We cannot be held to ransom by anyone. The game and the club are bigger than anyone. One or two players don’t make a team, it takes a lot of players to make a team. And, if it becomes an issue of only money and nothing else, then this (Chiefs) is the wrong place to be.”
Unlike the rest of the football world, salaries in the PSL are always shrouded in secrecy. Based on reports and off-the-record discussions, it can safely be assumed that the top bracket is in the region of between R300 000 to R450 000 per month, while the bottom end of the scale floats around R15 000 to R30 000 per month. That gap – in fact, make that a chasm – alone is enough to make you scream from the rooftops that enough is enough.
And yet the top men are now demanding between R500 000 and R800 000 per month. Already earning far too much, they want even more... The players, though, are probably not to blame – the skewed madness of the domestic football market has created this monster.
Comparisons with Europe don’t hold water. Those are first world countries, they play to a global television audience, week in and week out they perform in front of packed stands, and, most importantly, the quality of the game is streets ahead of the local product.
There are some fabulously talented local players and some of the games are attractive and entertaining. But, let’s be honest, crowds are dwindling… the overall quality of the sport is not of the best… in most cases, teams struggle to hold on to possession for prolonged periods of time, often conceding possession rather easily and tamely. In some places, the pitches are sub-standard… the standard of officiating needs assistance… and critically, and this is the rub, should players be earning obscene amounts of money in a developing country such as ours where there are people who don’t know where their next meal is coming from?
Yet there are footballers earning massive salaries when, often, they are not even worth it. There are still PSL players struggling with rudimentary technical skills and a basic awareness of the tactical needs of the sport.
Even the PSl’s chairman, and Orlando Pirates owner, Irvin Khoza has weighed in. In an interview with a weekend newspaper, Khoza is quoted as referring to the current financial situation in the league as an “artificial economy”.
“The reality is that we don’t have many club owners who have deep pockets,” said Khoza. “Unfortunately, the way the market has turned out is an artificial economy, which is not sustainable. Not many clubs can afford such high salaries. I can’t afford it myself. Some players earn more than me. If other clubs can do that, good luck, we can’t compete. We can’t blame them.”
And, yet, when it comes to the SA national football squad – Bafana Bafana – everybody is quick to hurl insults and point accusing fingers when the team fails.
The main reason behind Bafana’s inability to progress is linked to the exorbitant salaries good players are able to command in the PSL. It develops into a case of the “big fish in small pond” mentality. The nation’s best footballers get sucked into a comfort zone and are happy to stay and play in the PSL. As such, their game never develops, they never get better. They stay at exactly the same level they are, never really testing or challenging themselves.
Why are the national teams of Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Cameroon so much better than Bafana? Simple, because all their top footballers play in Europe. The PSL, as an organisation, may be miles ahead of the local leagues in the above-mentioned countries in terms of administration and salaries – but, in international football, on the field of play, that means squat.
In an interview the now-retired Lance Davids, the former Bafana midfielder who left Mitchell’s Plain at the age of 15 to pursue a career in Europe, explained the root of the South African football problem: “It’s so important for South Africans to go to Europe and better their game. Too often, players are too happy to just stay in the PSL. The money is good, their families are here, the weather is good, but their game doesn’t improve, they can’t get to a higher level and they don’t gain the experience that will make them so much better.
“Look at the example of Andile Jali, now playing in Belgium. His game has come on tremendously, he is said to be one of the best players in the Belgian league. Watch him when he comes to play for Bafana now, he never loses possession…”
The counter argument to all of this, of course, is that with so much sponsorship money pouring into the PSL, a salary cap opens up the possibility of players being exploited by unscrupulous club owners (which is not unusual in this country). But that’s a debate on its own…
Crucially, though, a review of salaries in the PSL forces players to actually go out on to the field to prove their worth, There are far too many mediocre footballers demanding amounts that are not commensurate with their ability.
And, more importantly, a salary cap means that South Africa’s very best will have to go to Europe to earn what they deserve. This improves their game – and that can only be advantageous for Bafana. - Cape Argus