New South African coach wants law on foreign players changed

By Tichaona Sibanda
14 September

Carlos Alberto Parreira, the recently appointed South African national soccer team coach wants the number of foreign players in that country’s top flight league reduced to three per club.

Current rules allow five foreign players to be fielded at the same time. If Parreira’s recommendation is taken on board by the South African Football Association (SAFA) it will spell doom for the multitude of Zimbabwean players who ply their trade in that country.

At least 20 top Zimbabwe players, including eight national team members, have established themselves in the PSL and some have over the years won numerous accolades, including PSL player of the year and top goal scorer of the year awards. Countless more play in lower divisions.

Thuso Khumalo, our correspondent in South Africa said Parreira, who coached Brazil to victory in the 1994 FIFA World Cup has been talking to the South African media about his new plans which he believes would help bring young South African players into the top league.

South Africa are hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Parreira wants the PSL to be flooded with local talent, a strategy he hopes will help him by having a big player base to choose from. Worringly that country’s football players union has thrown its weight behind Parreira’s efforts to reduce the number of foreign players in the Premier Soccer League.

According to Khumalo, Parreira said it was crucial that local talent should be unearthed and nurtured in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup, hence his recommendation that the number of foreign players be reduced to three per club. SAFA is expected to follow up on his recommendations and reduce the number of foreign players in the South African domestic premiership.

‘The problem with this is that many Zimbabwean players will be affected if this quota system is introduced. Football authorities are expected to call for an indaba to discuss this controversial topic,’ Khumalo said.