The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture in KwaZulu-Natal, Mntomuhle Khawula, has called on football fans to come out in large numbers to support the teams in this province playing in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Khawula was speaking at an event held at the Southen Sun Elangeni Hotel, Durban, yesterday, for the presentation and selection of six KZN teams that play in the paid division to compete in the KZN Premier’s Cup.
This annual tournament which was established in 2011, will be played by MaZulu FC, Lamontville Golden Arrows, Durban City, Richards Bay FC, Milford FC and Midlands Wanderers, on July 24-25, at Princess Magogo Stadium, KwaMashu, and Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, Clermont.
The first day’s matches will be played at Sugar Ray, the finals will be played at Princess Magogo the following day.
“It makes us happy and makes us proud as a province to have five teams playing in the Betway Premiership division. In fact, this province of ours is the best in South Africa for having more teams than any other province.
However, we are still concerned that football fans in this province do not come out in large numbers to go to the stadiums when the provincial teams play in the PSL, as they do when they play in this province,” said Khawula.
“The increase in the number of provincial teams in the Premiership challenges our teams to fight for success. So we don’t want champions this season.”
The Premier of the province, Thami Ntuli, emphasized the importance of discovering the talent of players in schools.
“First of all, we chose the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium and Princess Magogo stadiums on purpose because they are township stadiums. Our aim is to develop the economy in the townships and villages,” said Ntuli.
“The province of KwaZulu-Natal is very rich in talent. Therefore, it is very important that the teams in this province make it a priority to discover talent in rural areas and townships, especially in schools.
That is why we have arranged for the coaches of the teams in this province that play in the PSL before the start of the KZN Premier’s Cup to visit different schools in the province.”
Milford’s promotion to the Premiership increased the number of provincial teams in the Premiership, as there are now five, then Midlands Wanderers who play in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
The teams that will play in the KZN Premier’s Cup are as follows:
July 24:
ESugar Ray Xulu Stadium
Golden Arrows v Milford FC (10m); Durban City v Richards Bay FC (1pm); AmaZulu FC v Midlands Wanderers (4pm)