Premier league signs broadcast deal with MultiChoice
JOBURG - Players from the academy sides of the Premier Soccer League clubs are in for exciting times ahead.
Players from the academy sides of the Premier Soccer League clubs are in for exciting times.
This follows the conclusion of a deal with MultiChoice and the league which includes life skills and leadership development for players; television production internships; and broadcast opportunities for community television as well.
Under the deal, MultiChoice announced a new multi-pronged programme aimed at supporting development in football and broadcasting. The deal involves televising some of the matches of the academy sides live, called the MultiChoice Diski Challenge.
A football competition for the academy sides will be launched, as well as life skills and leadership development for players; an internship programme to develop broadcasting skills among the youth; scholarships for players and production interns; as well as a chance for community television channels on DStv to broadcast the MultiChoice Diski Challenge matches.
“We want to make a real and lasting difference in the football fraternity and communities in South Africa,” said Imtiaz Patel, group CEO for MultiChoice South Africa.
The programme is a three-year partnership with the league, with the focus on building the premier league’s Reserve League. The primary aim of the initiative is an emphasis on fast tracking the club’s U19 talent into their first teams; with clubs limited to include a maximum of three players above the age of 20 in their Reserve League teams.
The competition includes a round-robin league format and knockout phase for the 16 academy teams of the league, and will also equip players for life after football through life and leadership development skills, as well as exposure to careers in broadcasting by attending a one-week career conference at the MultiChoice campus.
Dr Irvin Khoza, chairperson of the league said the deal addresses the need for clubs to develop homegrown talent which will facilitate progression from academy football to the professional ranks, as young players often struggle to make the transition into the senior sides.
“We believe that this programme can be the game-changer in facilitating the talent development pathways for up-and-coming players,” Khoza said.
The MultiChoice tournament will kick off in KwaZulu-Natal in September, and runs until March.
The winner receives a floating trophy and a trip to Holland for a four-day training camp with the Royal Netherlands Football Association and their top youth coaches, as well as a match against a top Dutch team and two friendly games in Germany against two top Bundesliga teams.
