The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Dr Patrice Motsepe has reiterated the importance of CAF Super League, saying it will generate revenues and those revenues will be distributed to all 54 member associations in Africa.
The CAF Super League was launched last year, raising so much confusion in the PSL, one of them was TS Galaxy president Tim Sukazi who questioned the criteria, saying his club does meet many CAF standards as they participated in the CAF Confederation Cup last year.
Sukazi said the Super League was dangerous to the PSL’s programs, saying the huge amount of money the winner will get, clubs will opt to play weaker sides in the league and field a strong side in the competition.
However, he said clubs should not boycott it but they should wait to get clarity.
CAF said the first 24 clubs based on Caf rankings from 16 FAs will participate, and will receive an annual contribution of $2-5-million dollars for being part of the ASL to use for expenses, including transport and player transfers.
The Prize money of the Africa Super League will be USD 100 million (R1961 207 000, 00), with the winner receiving USD 11.5 million (R221,470,358.00).
The ASL will kick off on 23 August until 24 May 2023.
President Motsepe, who was with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, said then: “This is one of the most exciting projects in the history of African football and will significantly contribute to the development and growth of the quality and competitiveness of football in Africa.”
Infantino added: “As FIFA President, I am happy to witness such a historic moment of this exciting football project to boost and improve club football in Africa. African club football needs to be brought to the next level and to do that, it is important to be innovative and to have new ideas, while fully respecting the existing institutional framework.
“The Africa Super League, built within the international football pyramid structure, is a project which will make African club football shine in Africa and beyond.”
CAF also added they will receive USD 50 million per annum to develop football for boys and girls, to employ world-class staff, to improve and to make all its other competitions attractive and appealing to football spectators, TV viewers, sponsors and other partners.
Motsepe, speaking in the COSAFA AGM in Sandton on Friday, said this has not changed.
“We are using the Super League for one and only main purpose, as a means to get money to be shared amongst the member associations,” said Motsepe.
“There is a promotion and relegation and of course to build the quality of football.”
Instead of starting with 24 teams as CAF said then, the Super League will now start with eight teams and the criteria have not been shared as yet on which clubs will participate. But, in South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns is guaranteed to participate as its CAF coefficient rankings are high.
