Survey: The Standard Of South African Football

After Bafana Bafana qualified for the 2023 African Cup of Nations, Bet.co.za once again surveyed football fans across the country to learn about their views and sentient on the standard of South African football. 

We covered several interesting talking points such as the impact and role of SAFA (South African Football Association) to improve South African football, the quality of our locally based players, and a lot of other topics.

Head of content for Bet.co.za Carl Lewis said:

“We wanted to capture the mood and the sentiment of South African fans with regards to SA football and we think this survey was the best way to do it. There were some surprising statistics to come from the survey, the most important one for me…South Africans still care a lot about Bafana Bafana and the PSL.”

1000 South African football fans completed the survey and didn’t hold back their views.

Key Takeaways From The Survey

Here’s a summary of the most interesting findings and key statistics:

• Over 2/3 of football fans watch the DSTV Premiership.
  
• Majority of South Africans rate SA Football as average.
  
• PSL teams are not really good at developing young talent.
  
• The best players in the PSL are not ready to play in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
  
• South African football fans would urge an 18-year-old player to move to Europe as soon as possible.
  
• Most fans suggest focusing on school football leagues/ tournaments would help in developing enough grassroots players.
  
• PSL have enough local coaches, however, it’s the coaches are average.
  
• Most SA football fans watch PSL games on TV at home.
  
• SAFA is not doing enough on improving South African football.
  
• SA Football fans don’t have confidence in SAFA to improve SA football, but not all hope is lost.
  
• A huge number of South Africans still watch Bafana Bafana.
  
• SA football fans are championing Ex-professional football players in management positions to improve SA football.

About The Survey

Bet.co.za surveyed 1000 South African football fans across the country. Both males and females of different age groups in all nine provinces.

Majority Of South Africans Rate SA Football As Average (54%)

Considering that Bafana Bafana ranks 67th in the FIFA World ranking and 12th in Africa, it doesn’t come as a surprise that more than half of respondents rate South African football as average. Followed by Good with 16%, then Poor with 15.8%

Over 2/4 Of SA Football Fans Watch The Dstv Prem

Our Stadiums might be empty on multiple occasions during the Dstv premiership matches, but over half of the respondents (64%) follow and watch local football while 33% Sometimes watch PSL Football.

PSL Teams Are Not Really Good At Developing Young Talent

The majority (50%) say SA and PSL teams are not really good at developing young talent, and 43% say SA is good at developing young talent. Two names that are making rounds right now in South African football are Mduduzi Shabalala and Cassius Mailula.

PSL Players Are Not Ready To Play In Europe’s Top 5 Leagues (48%)

Currently, there’s no South African player playing in one of Europe’s top 5 leagues. The South African generation of players that had a lot of exports was the 1996 squad, which went all the way to win the African Cup of Nations. The likes of Benni McCarthy who played in La Liga for Celta Vigo, in the English Premier League for Blackburn Rovers, and West Ham United among many others.

SA Football Fans Would Urge An 18-Year-Old Player To Move To Europe As Soon As Possible (75% )

With a lack of South African players abroad, 3/4 of South African football fans (75%) would suggest a young star move to Europe as soon as possible to develop and cultivate his/her career than staying in South Africa.

Most Fans Suggest Focusing On School Football Leagues/ Tournaments Could Help In Developing Enough Grassroots Players

41% of South African football fans say focusing on school football leagues/tournaments would help to grow and develop SA football. A tournament/ league that produced several South African football household names is Chappies Little League while 34% say SAFA must take the lead on grassroots player development and provide the framework and clear pathways for young players. 

SA Football Fans Are Leaning Towards Flair As The Identity Of SA Football, While Others Suggest SA Have Their Own Style Of Play

56% of South Africans say SA Football has its own identity, and 37% of South Africans say Flair is the identity that best represents SA football.

PSL Have Enough Coaches, However Its Average Coaches

48% of South Africans say there are enough local coaches in the PSL, 38% rate South African coaches positively, with 32% rating them as Good and 5% rating them as Very Good. Only 7% of South Africans rate local coaches as Poor and 55% rate SA coaches as Average.

Most SA Football Fans Watch PSL Games On TV At Home

61% of South Africans say they always watch PSL matches on TV at home, 18% go to the stadiums for big matches only, 9% of South Africans stream the matches online, and 8% go to the Stadium for local matches only.

SAFA Is Slacking On Improving SA Football, And South Africans Don’t Have Confidence In The Organisation

74% feel that SAFA is not doing enough to improve SA football, 26% say they are doing enough, furthermore, 30% of South Africans have confidence that SAFA can improve SA football while 45% do not have confidence, but 33% are positive about the future.

A Huge Number Of South Africans Still Watches Bafana Bafana

57% of South Africans always watch Bafana Bafana matches, however, 28% of South Africans used to watch more games than they currently do.

SA Football Fans Are Championing Ex-Professional Football Players In Management Positions To Improve SA Football

64% of South Africans say hiring ex-football players in management positions is a solution to improve SA football.

About Bet.co.za

Bet.co.za is one of South Africa’s leading sports betting platforms, licensed and regulated by the Western Cape Gambling Board. Bet.co.za offers competitive betting odds on a variety of sports, as well as instant-win casino games such as Roulette, Poker, Blackjack, and Slots.

Media queries:
Siphamandla Lindwa
[email protected]
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Siphamandla Lindwa

Siphamandla Lindwa is a sports writer and a publisher for Bet Central at Bet.co.za. He obtained a B-Tech in Sports Management from Tshwane University of Technology. When not writing sports content, Sipha scouts talent and networks for his future Sports Management agency.