By Michael Madyira
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) will not be represented by any players at the Fifa World Cup in Qatar.
The quadrennial football fiesta will run from this coming Sunday, 20 November until 18 December.
Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori was the biggest PSL hopeful to grace the tournament, but he was dropped by coach Otto Addo of Ghana, due to injury.
Cape Town City defender Brice Ambina was included in the Cameroon preliminary squad, but could not make the final cut.
“All the 16 [PSL] teams only have five foreign players each and the league is predominantly made up of South African players,” said Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena.
Mokwena described the lack of PSL at the World Cup as a complex matter.
“It is a little bit of an unfair statement to say it is a reflection of the level of our league that we are not represented at the World Cup. It’s more complex than it is. It also speaks about the recruitment and profiling of players,” says Mokwena.
At the beginning of this year, there were a number of PSL players who had chances to be at the World Cup.
Pirates defender Olisa Ndah was at the Africa Cup of Nations finals with Nigeria and the Super Eagles were still in contention for Qatar 2022.
However, Nigeria was denied a World Cup spot by Ghana in March.
Kwame Peprah of Pirates had hoped to make the Ghana squad, but poor performances distanced him from selection, while his Cameroonian teammate Bienvenu Eva Nga could not be considered.
South Africa enjoyed representation at the World Cup in 1998 and 2002 by virtue of participating in the global football jamboree.
But there was no PSL player in Germany in 2006 before South Africa hosted the tournament in 2010.
While Chippa United goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi was included in the Nigeria squad at Russia 2018, the PSL has no representation this time around.
Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Rashid Sumaila and goalkeeper Fatau Dauda, then with Pirates, were included in the Ghana squad for the 2014 tournament in Brazil but could not get some game time.
This time around, the consolation for South Africa comes from referee Victor Gomes and linesman Zakhele Siwela who will officiate in Qatar.
Pictured above: Richard Ofori
Image source: Football Ghana
