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| We take a look at the importance of foreigners in the PSL and how they boost the standard of our league |
Yes I know, you’d prefer real news instead of an article discussing the importance of foreign players in the PSL, but us, as South Africans, don’t really understand how valuable they are to our league.
Off the top of my head, I can already see the mismatch between a South African XI playing in the PSL and a foreign XI based in Mzansi.
It’s not a new thing that we have just figured out recently, though. From the days of Gilbert Mushangazhike banging in the goals for Manning Rangers to Leonardo Castro slotting home the winner in Kaizer Chiefs’ first win over Baroka. We have always relied on foreign players to boost the standard of our league.
Not to take aim at any of the South African players, we’ve had some quality stars over the years, but we just have to value the foreign talent brought into our country.
Whether they are brought in for trials or by big-money moves, the success rate is usually high on foreign gambles.
You will get the odd Edmore Chirambadare along the way, but overall, we have to appreciate the newcomers.
No matter which team you support, you have to admit that Mamelodi Sundowns is the greatest team in Mzansi, in recent seasons – for arguments sake. And they produced one of the most electrifying attacking trios in ‘CBD’ – with two members being foreign in Castro and Khama Billiat.
Masandawana have recently signed Jeremy Brockie, a New Zealand international, who single-handedly at times, led SuperSport United to two Nedbank Cup trophies, a MTN8 cup and the final of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Elsewhere in Mzansi, Willard Katsande has held the Kaizer Chiefs team together for many years, more importantly, in their barren spell under Steve Komphela. As you’d already know, Katsande is a Zimbabwean, and he follows the footsteps of Tinashe Nengomasha and Knowledge Musona, who both had success in yellow and black colours.
Another player worthy of mentioning is Tendai Ndoro. Another Zimbabwean who is considered to be one of the best strikers in the ABSA Premiership, alongside Castro and Brockie. To no surprise, they’re all foreigners.
To date back even further, Collins Mbesuma is one of the best players to ever grace the PSL, and boasts the record of most goals scored in a league season with 25, three more than Zimbabwean attacker, Wilfred Mugeyi – another foreigner.
There are loads of other non-South African talented players that I haven’t mentioned who we should be grateful for having in our league, because without them, the standard of the ABSA Premiership will just not be the same.