The buying and selling of statuses to compete in SA's top-flight soccer league, the PSL, is making a mockery out of our football, and it shouldn't be allowed to continue. SliceOfGasant columnist Gasant Abarder argues that the right to play with the elite of our country's clubs must be earned and not bought.
It has happened before with the very same team that is now relegated from the big league. Cape Town City Football Club bought its Premier League Soccer PSL status from Mpumalanga Black Aces in 2015.
Ironically, after a few years of competing, Cape Town City were relegated from the PSL after this last campaign and word in soccer circles is that they are desperate for a willing seller to stay in top-flight SA football.
In the latest such move, the son of Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie paid R400-million to buy almost relegated SuperSport United's franchise and PSL status. The Minister says he had nothing to do with the transaction. Little is known about his son and the club he has in Bloemfontein that has risen from oblivion.
Yes, there is a lot at stake. Relegation means losses in revenue, sponsors potentially withdrawing their support and jobs possibly at risk. For Cape Town, it means no metropolitan team will be playing PSL football for the 2025/26 season, and local football lovers will have to travel to Stellenbosch to watch big league football. The much-celebrated Cape Town Spurs have dropped down to effectively the third-tier league after competing for many years as its forerunner, Ajax Cape Town, in the PSL.