Former Bafana Bafana star and captain Mbuleo Mabizela says he doesn’t enjoy watching the PSL and feels “still has to grow”.
Mabizela echoed the points made by another former star wizard winger Jabu Mahlangu, who lamented recently that he doesn’t enjoy watching the league because it is not competitive as Mamelodi Sundowns is winning games easily.
Mahlangu also added the PSL should adopt the Financial Fair Play (FFP) to curb the financial spending of Sundowns, who he felt are buying the best players but they are sitting in the stands.
In Mahlangu’s points, there were some truths in it but some were ill-informed or advised, with little understanding about how FFP works which was introduced in Europe by UEFA.
To be fair to Sundowns, they have worked hard. However, it is just a matter of time before they claim the sixth league title on the bounce, having set the record to have won 14 games on the bounce.
Coach Rulani Mokwena, since he was appointed in October, became the first coach to win all 10 league matches, scoring 22 goals and conceding just two in the process, leading OJ to feel there is a long way to go for other clubs to catch up.
“It still has to grow, to be honest with you,” said Mabizela to iDiski Times.
“As I have said in my previous interviews, we need to strengthen our development so that when it comes to top-flight football we are competitive.
“We had players who were 18 at the World Cup, why can’t we challenge ourselves and have those players in the league? Do we say a player at that age is still developing? We need to close the gap.”
OJ is the former Sundowns player, having won a league title, SAA Supa 8 and the Nedbank Cup.
OJ was recently appointed by AmaZulu as their assistant coach in the 13s while Nqoba Mdladla is the head coach. He played for the Durban-based side in the second half of the 2014/15 season when they were starring relegation axe. He couldn’t helped them as they were demoted to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
The newly restructured youth academy by AmaZulu was outlined by board member and director of the club Mfundo Zungu, the older son of president Sandile Zulu, as part of the club’s vision 2032 project.
“It is like coming home,” said Mabizela without hesitation.
“To be part of the AmaZulu family, this time in another different capacity not as a player. Now I’m here to contribute to youth development and add my value and those are important things to me.
“So when AmaZulu approached me, I was so happy because for me to be a footballer I was groomed at Maritzburg City. So I was very happy and humbled and I’m looking forward to it.”
