Why Milford are sticking with South African talent in the Premiership

Milford owner-coach Xanti Pupuma says the club have not yet needed to sign foreign players because their existing squad is capable of competing in the Premiership, while the club remains committed to prioritising local talent.

The newcomers made a strong impression despite beginning their top-flight campaign with a 2-0 defeat by the reigning league champions at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday. Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi scored for the home side.

Milford’s squad is largely made up of players who have been with the club since their early years in the lower divisions. Every member of the current team is South African, and Pupuma explained that the club have so far chosen not to use their option to recruit at least one overseas player.

He believes the group that helped Milford rise from the ABC Motsepe League can also keep the club in the Premiership during their first season at the highest level.

“We’re a team that’s coming up with players from ABC Motsepe League. It’s very rare that you have foreign players in the ABC Motsepe League, so we took these guys and came up to the MFC with them and now we are proceeding with them even in the Premiership,” Pupuma stated.

The owner-coach said Milford had not actively searched for foreign recruits and had not identified a player who justified changing their approach. Although agents and representatives of other clubs had suggested overseas options, the club’s preference had consistently been to give opportunities to footballers from the Richards Bay area.

“We haven’t had an opportunity to say we’re looking outside. Unfortunately we haven’t identified any foreign players. There have been suggestions from agents and other team owners [to sign foreign players], but we’ve always wanted to give first preference to local boys from around Richards Bay.”

Pupuma, who comes from Nqamakwe in the Eastern Cape, stressed that the policy was not based on hostility towards foreign players. Instead, he said Milford’s recruitment decisions reflected the values of the club and its owners.

He also left open the possibility that the club could eventually sign players from outside South Africa as it becomes more established in the professional game.

“And us [as Milford owners] coming from the Eastern Cape, we also want to involve the Eastern Cape people in bolstering the team, so as long as there’s a player from Nqamakwe that is at the same level as a player from Zimbabwe, I am going to take the one from Nqamakwe,” Pupuma stated.

The Milford coach said his personal connection to the region was another reason for favouring local players when two candidates were considered to be of a similar standard.

“Not that I have a problem with people from outside, but I feel that I’d relate more with a Nqamakwe boy knowing where he’s coming from. Maybe going forward, as we grow in the professional ranks that will change.”

For now, Milford will continue their Premiership campaign with the squad that earned promotion, maintaining their emphasis on developing and trusting homegrown players.