Dylan Bettencourt
Major financial rewards from the Africa Super League are set to inspire smaller clubs across Africa to work at becoming continental champions.
At least those are the thoughts of the chief executive of Tanzanian club Simba Barbara Gonzalez who believes the financial injection will be a huge boost to smaller clubs.
The competition was announced on 10 August by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and is set to begin at the start of next season.
The tournament will run alongside the African Champions League.
Each of the 24 clubs taking part will receive R40 million with the winners set to receive an additional R177 million.
The Super League does not just benefit individual football clubs but all 54 of CAF’s member associations will get R16 million.
“The primary investment that CAF is making via the solidarity fund for federations is what will boost national football,” Simba’s Barbara Gonzalez told BBC Sport Africa.
“To be competitive in these international competitions requires investment. Now that they’re investing heavily, everyone has an appetite. And now we have a fighting chance.”
CAF president Patrice Motsepe explained that one of the biggest challenges African sides face is funding.
“Top African clubs participating in the current Champions League spend a lot of money on transport and accommodation,” Motsepe said.
“And when they win, the money they get doesn’t justify or compensate for the huge expenses they’ve undertaken.”
There are fears that the tournament may increase the gap between the well-funded sides and those with financial difficulties but Gonzalez believes otherwise.
“The Africa Super League is going to narrow the gap because of the investment in the solidarity fund that will take place across all countries,” she said.
Gonzalez however did agree that there is some concern about how the tournament will impact the domestic calendar of the teams taking part.
Image source: @KawowoSports
