Osoro Nyawangah, MWANZA
Tanzania
It is a new dawn as the Africa Super League was finally launched by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe in Tanzania Wednesday August 10 afternoon.
52 Member Associations,
leading football Club officials, legends and the FIFA President, Gianni
Infantino joined in on the launch of a new lucrative $100 million (TSh230
billion) Super League aimed at injecting financial muscle to the cash-strapped
clubs on the continent.
Twenty-four clubs, yet to be
decided, will take part in the first edition, which has the backing of world
governing body FIFA and will be played between August 2023 and May 2024.
CAF president, who announced
the new competition, did not say if it would replace CAF's existing Champions
League and the second-tier Confederation Cup.
"The African Super League
is a very important initiative. One of the major problems in Africa is finance."
Said Motsepe at the launch held in the northern Tanzania city of Arusha.
"The Africa Super League is
one of the most exciting developments in the history of African football and
the objective in terms of what we are trying to achieve is very clear, to make
sure African club football is world class and competes with the best in
the world.
"Our intention is to use
the $100 million as prize money and to do that every year in the African Super
League, so that the club which wins gets $11.5 million," he added.
Tanzania’s Simba Sports Club Chief
Executive Officer, Barbara Gonzalez, the who attended the launch was very
delighted about the development.
“Football is about business
and every time more money is coming in this is very positive. As a Club we are
very happy that the Africa Super League has now been launched and we can’t wait
for it to start next year.” Says Gonzalez.
She added that having the
Africa Super League will be another opportunity for clubs to be able to sale
and buy players. “Having the new tournament will definitely open more avenues
for clubs to make money and players to also benefit,” she added.
Jessica Motaung, the Marketing
Director of South Africa Premier League side Kaizer Chiefs who also attended
the launch equally welcomed the Africa Super League. “This is a great idea to
have another tournament where teams can play and also make money. But let us
wait for more details about the tournament.” Noted Motaung.
Siaka Chico Tiene, a Legend
and former Cote D’Ivoire International also chipped in to welcome the new
Africa Super League. “This is a great idea which will bring top teams to
compete together and make money as well.” reasoned Tiene.
The 1st Vice President of the
Federation of Uganda Football Associations, Justus Mugisha also observed that
having the Africa Super League is a great development for the continent because
it gives chance to have more competitions and bringing in more money. “Football
needs money and having a competition that brings money means a lot,” added
Mugisha.
The Africa Super League which
will have a total prize money of $100 million, with the winner receiving $11.6
million will have all Zones represented.
Motsepe said CAF will use some
of the $50 million from the Super League to make football attractive and ensure
the best players remain in Africa and improve the quality of the sport on the
continent which has lagged behind other parts of the world.Jessica Motaung, the Marketing Director of South Africa Premier League side Kaizer Chiefs (L) with Simba Sports Club CEO, Barbara Gonzalez (R)
"Each of the 24 clubs
that will take part in the initial tournament will receive an annual contribution
of three-and-half million dollars to buy players, pay for transport and player
transfers," Motsepe said.
Motsepe appealed to African
governments to help with the construction of CAF-approved stadiums to ensure
every club play their football in their own countries.
Not everyone is excited about
the Super League with Cape Town City FC owner John Comitis calling it a
"super silly idea".
"The Super League will
kill African club football," he warned. - Africa
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