Latest news with #PSL
IOL News
21 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
Cape Town City chairman John Comitis considers buying another club's status to remain in the top flight
Staying in the top-flight? Cape Town City chairman John Comitis has hinted that they may have to buy another club's status in order to stay in the Betway Premiership. Photo: BackpagePix When speaking to Robert Marawa on MSW this week, Comitis was asked by a listener if he considered buying another team's status in order to stay in the Betway Premiership. Since being founded in 2016 after purchasing the status of Mpumalanga Black Aces, the Cape Town club have never finished outside of the top eight. And just three years ago, they were the best of the rest as they finished second in the league, 16 points behind Mamelodi Sundowns . The Citizens, who started the season harbouring hopes of a title challenge, were relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship this week after going down to Orbit College in a relegation/promotion match in Rustenburg. 'Well, that's always an option because the PSL has allowed an entry and a window of opportunity for clubs to do that,' Comitis said on the show. 'At the end of the day, for me, it's about providing a service for football players that can get them to the highest level. I've been doing it for 27 years, and it's important that we have the right platform to be able to do that. 'I've got 15 youth internationals in my academy. They don't want to be playing for an NFD club in their future; they want to be at a PSL club, and quite rightly so. We've created a lot of value in these players – for themselves and the club. 'We do run a business at the end of the day. We don't ever deny that, but it's a mutually beneficial business – everybody concerned is a winner when we have a successful player that comes through the ranks and makes it professionally. And we've been servicing this industry for 30 years. 'It's a lot easier to do it at PSL level. There's a certain funding that you have, there's an exposure level, which is what you need. It creates value for your players and the club. All these things don't exist in the NFD. So, for me, it's critical that we get back into the PSL, and the shortest route is obviously the best route.' IOL Sport
The South African
2 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Cape Town City plot return to Betway Prem to save sponsorships
Cape Town City chairman John Comitis has revealed bold plans to return his club to the Betway Premiership, with the purchase of a top-flight status now a serious option. In a candid interview on MSW , Comitis admitted that City's relegation to the Motsepe Foundation Championship could trigger the loss of vital sponsors, including banking powerhouse FNB. He stressed that the club must return to the PSL immediately to avoid a damaging fallout. 'Well, you know, that's always an option because the PSL has allowed an entry and a window of opportunity for clubs to do that,' Comitis explained. Comitis didn't hold back when highlighting the financial strain relegation brings, particularly in the area of commercial partnerships. 'I don't think we would be able to carry any sponsorship in the NFD, and quite rightly so, there's no exposure there. It's a long, hard road,' he stated. He made it clear that the loss of television exposure and funding at second-tier level leaves little incentive for top-tier sponsors to remain involved. Comitis emphasised the need to provide a high-performance environment for the club's players, including 15 youth internationals currently in the academy. 'They don't want to be playing for an NFD club in their future; they want to be at a PSL club, and quite rightly so. We've created a lot of value in these players for themselves and the club,' he said. He argued that keeping the club in the lower division does a disservice to both the players and South African football, considering the development pipeline City has cultivated over the years. Comitis insisted that purchasing a PSL spot may be the only realistic way back into the league in time to save the club's business model and maintain relevance. 'There's a certain amount of funding and exposure you have at the PSL level, which you need to create value for your players and your club. All these things don't exist in the NFD,' he stressed. Despite the uncertainty, Cape Town City have already taken action to prepare for the 2025/2026 season. 'We're working around the clock to see what the possibilities are. We've already got our new coach who's arrived in the country for next season, either way,' Comitis confirmed. His proactive approach underlines how seriously the club views the need for a swift return to top-tier football, especially with their youth system, sponsorships, and long-term vision all at stake. Who will Cape Town City buy to get back to the top flight? Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
3 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Orlando Pirates' new coach had a STELLAR playing career
It's often the case that top managers have underwhelming playing careers. New Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou isn't one of them. 46-year-old Ouaddou won 68 caps for Morocco and enjoyed a club career spanning 15 years. An imposing central defender, he spent spells in France, England, Greece and Qatar. Pirates make their move for exciting PSL striker? Orlando Pirates' NINE new signings revealed? Abdeslam Ouaddou was a key figure for Morocco, winning an impressive tally of 68 caps for his country. A late bloomer, he only made his debut aged 21 and earned his first massive move in 2001 when he moved to newly-promoted Premier League side Fulham. Back then, €3.3 million was a lot of money. Today it's equivalent to R69 million. Is Moremi the new Segolela? Ouaddou used a 4-2-3-1 with Marumo Gallants, and made his side difficult to beat. In 10 betway Premiership matches in charge, he won four, drew four and lost just two. According to a report by UnplayableZA , Abdoulaye Mariko could be headed to Pirates next season. With experience in the Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup, he could be a shrewd acquisition for the Buccaneers. Click for the story Will Ouaddou be too defensive at Pirates? Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
News24
4 days ago
- Sport
- News24
Little-known Orbit College FC seal dream promotion to PSL top flight as CT City relegated
Orbit College FC have made history, earning promotion to South Africa's top flight after a 1-0 win over Cape Town City in Rustenburg. The victory not only marks their rise from the ABC Motsepe League to the Premiership in just two seasons but also ends the North West Province's seven-year absence from the elite division. Letsie Koapeng's second-half strike sealed the result, sparking emotional scenes as Orbit now prepare to join SA football's biggest names in 2025/26. Orbit College FC sealed a historic promotion to the Premier Soccer League top flight on Thursday, defeating Cape Town City FC 1-0 in front of a capacity crowd at Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg. The victory marks a watershed moment for the North West Province, which will be represented in the Betway Premiership for the first time since Platinum Stars were relegated to the National First Division in 2018. Following their drop, Stars sold their PSL status to Cape Umoya United, leaving a void Orbit will now proudly fill. The 2024/25 PSL Promotion/Relegation Playoffs began with three consecutive stalemates, a cagey theme Orbit shattered last Saturday with a late winner against Casric Stars that catapulted them to the top of the mini-league standings. Then came the arrival of City, owned by John Comitis, to the North West. For Orbit, defeating a club resurrected just nine years ago after acquiring the PSL status of Mpumalanga Black Aces and rebranding entirely was more than just a result, it was the kind of footballing tale usually reserved for fiction. The opening 20 minutes revealed a clear contrast between the two sides. City displayed better technical quality in possession but struggled to make it count, while Orbit showed relentless desire, throwing bodies on the line to preserve their clean sheet. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲-𝐨𝐟𝐟 - 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐔𝐋𝐓: Orbit College make it back-to-back wins in the promotion play-offs as they win against Cape Town City. — Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) June 25, 2025 Hashim Domingo – a two-time Premiership winner with Mamelodi Sundowns – was influential in the No. 10 role, dictating play in pockets of space. He came close to breaking the deadlock after a sharp counterattack found him on the edge of the box, but goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane reacted superbly, producing a textbook save to deny him. Despite the match's high tempo, it lacked composure in the final third. Still, the atmosphere continued to build. The crowd was buzzing, and the stadium steadily filled, with cars pouring in and fans arriving in waves, even as the first half neared its end. Everyone wanted to witness what could become a historic moment: Orbit's push for a place in the Premiership. Three minutes after the restart, those who arrived late were met with the roar of celebration – a goal that shifted the momentum and electrified the atmosphere. City's defence switched off at the worst possible moment, both out wide and through the middle. Gomolemo Khoto exploited the space with a pinpoint low cross across the face of the goal, and Letsie Koapeng timed his run to perfection. He redirected the ball beyond a stranded Darren Keet with the faintest touches, sparking jubilation in the Orbit camp and among their swelling support in the stands. The remainder of the match turned into a tense tug-of-war, with Orbit holding on with the kind of grip teams dream of in moments like these. They refused to let it slip, fuelled by raw determination and a roaring Olympia Park crowd that sang every pass, tackle, and clearance into existence. When the final whistle blew, a dream was realised. Orbit had crossed the finish line into the Premiership. On the opposite end of the field, though, it was heartbreak. City, after nine years in South Africa's top flight, were officially relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship, their fall sealed in silence despite one last playoff against Casric remaining on Monday, which is now confirmed as a dead rubber. For Orbit's head coach, Pogiso Makhoye, there were tears. 'With the glory of God, I am here,' he said, pausing as emotion overcame him. Then he thanked the people who had supported him and his team along the way: 'They believed in me.' Having spent the better part of a decade in the ABC Motsepe League, Orbit College FC only earned promotion to the National First Division two seasons ago. Since then, their rise has been nothing short of remarkable. Now, they've completed the climb, breaking into the stratosphere of South African football. In the coming 2025/26 season, Orbit will share the stage with the country's elite, going toe-to-toe with giants like Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns. Their story is a beacon for the underdog, a symbol of resurgence for the province, and a fresh heartbeat in South African football. Now, the real journey begins.
The Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
From Hanamub to Hotto: Top-performing foreign players in 2024/2025 PSL season
Malibongwe Mdletshe | Published 1 hour ago THE pre-season player transfer window comes with performance analysis by numbers as teams look to offload and strengthen their arsenals for the upcoming season. For foreign players, this is usually means a great deal, with the Premier Soccer League (PSL) having foreign-player quotas in place. So, Independent Media looked at the best performing foreign nationals from the PSL's 2024/2025 Premiership season. Boasting names like Peter Shalulile, Riaan Hanamub, Deon Hotto and Elmo Kambindu, it is fair to say that Namibia were yet again the best represented country outside South Africa in the past season. However, not all Namibian players make our top five list of the best performing foreign nationals... Riaan Hanamub (Defender, AmaZulu – Namibia) The 30-year-old left fullback was yet again one of the best, if not the best, in his position in the previous season. His closest competition comes from the Zimbabwean-born Divine Lunga, who plays in the same position for Mamelodi Sundowns. However Lunga, only became a regular towards the end of the season, and as a result played only 10 league games. Hanuman, though, was a regular for Usuthu, playing no less than 26 league games for the side that had at least three coaching changes. Hanamub was a starter under Pablo Franco Martin, who in October was replaced by Vusumuzi Vilakazi and Arthur Zwane as co-coaches. Hanamub continued to hold his own even after Vilakazi left Zwane as the sole head coach with about 10 games remaining to finish the season. The Namibian recorded four assists to his name, proving to be an important cog in the team's attack as well. He remains an anchor for Usuthu, and in January, he was linked with a big move to Kaizer Chiefs. Deon Hotto (Left wing-back, Orlando Pirates – Namibia) Operating tirelessly with pace on the left flank from left back to left wing, Hotto is proving to be one of those age-defying players. At 34, Hotto made 49 appearances for Pirates in all five competitions the Buccaneers participated in. That includes 25 in the league and 14 Champions League games, where he produced six goals and eight assists. He remains clubless after Pirates announced his release at the end of the season. Peter Shalulile (Centre forward, Mamelodi Sundowns – Namibia) Although his impact was way less than the season before, the 31-year-old Shalulile still shone for the Brazilians, scoring crucial goals when needed the most. He made a total of 47 appearances in all competitions, scoring 11 goals with two assists. Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Second striker, Mamelodi Sundowns – Brazil) By far the best performing player in the PSL for the season, the Brazilian has more numbers on his. Playing 50 games in all competitions, he scored 21 goals and made 14 assists. Ribeiro's influence is with the ball at his feet, as he is able to take on defenders with ease and open up space for his teammates to slot into scoring spaces – if he doesn't score himself. However, the 26-year-old will need to work on his temper as he raked in 12 yellow cards as well. Andre de Jong (attacking midfielder, Stellenbosch FC – New Zealand) It is a tough one between the Kiwi and Marcelo Allende, who plays almost the same role at Sundowns, although De Jong enjoys a more free role compared to the Chilean, who finds himself behind the likes of Ribeiro Costa and Themba Zwane at Sundowns. As a result, De Jong found himself in front of goal more often. Among his eight-goal haul in all competitions, he scored four that pushed Stellenbosch to a historic semi-final place in their CAF Confederation Cup campaign. NB: Statistics show that the Premiership registered 81 foreign players last season.
