As contemplated in the South African Citizenship Amendment Act, 2010 (Act No. 17 of 2010), foreign players need to secure a work permit before they are registered with the league but the Department of Home Affairs also has a requirement that clubs need to fulfill in their application for a work permit on behalf of their player(s).
One of those is that a club needs to provide proof that the player being recruited possesses skills that South African players do not have. Clubs in turn would have advertised this post and such proof is required by home affairs in addition to other paperwork such as the recruit’s police clearance from their country of origin as part of the application. This is all part of government’s attempt to regulate the influx of economic migrants who come under the pretext of political asylum and the country’s economic interests.
In the concluded season Black Leopards with a registered squad of 39 players had 10 foreign players and none of them shone to claim any domestic awards to justify their presence. Swallows with a squad of 34 players only had two foreign players in their books and finished 6th in their return season to the paid ranks. Kaizer Chiefs with 32 players, champions Mamelodi Sundowns with 40 players and Supersport United with 32 players each had eight foreign players in their books but it is only Sundowns’ Peter Shalulile who proved his worth with 124 appearances in all competitions with 51 goals and 16 assists since he donned the Chloorkop colours in September 2020 after leaving Highlands Park for a reported R20-m. He won himself the PSL footballer of the season and players’ player of the season accolades. Shalulile’s homeboy Orlando Pirates’ Deon Hotto scooped the MTN8 – Last Man Standing Award while Uganda national Dennis Onyango proved why he has the safest pair of hands as he won the Goalkeeper of the Season Award. Another goalkeeper, Zimbabwean Washington Arubi won the Nedbank Cup player of the tournament gong.
Foreign players need to use the 2021/22 season to prove to all and sundry that they are not just adding to the numbers but instead belong to the top shelf. I will deal with coaches – watch this space.
Disclaimer: Northern Media Group encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views or opinions of columnists published in NMG publications are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of NMG.
