Tsichlas says PSL has lost the identity it had 30 years ago

Former Mamelodi Sundowns chairlady and managing director Natasha “Iron Lady” Tsichlas says the Premier Soccer League has fallen short of the standards set during its formative years, despite celebrating its 30th anniversary this season.

Tsichlas, who is regarded as one of South Africa’s most respected football administrators, was one of the league’s founding members. She represented Mamelodi Sundowns alongside Abe Krok when the PSL was established and believes the competition was better organised and more ambitious in 1996/1997 and throughout the late 1990s.

“I was one of the founding members; Abe Krok and I were the two from Sundowns,” Tsichlas tells KickOff.

“Those years, in my opinion, were better. Every single team and club owner was more determined to develop the PSL into one of the best professional leagues in the world. That was the idea. And it has happened. When it comes to finance, the PSL is doing well, no doubt about that, even now.”

Her main criticism of the modern league concerns the way clubs change their names and identities. Tsichlas believes frequent rebranding has weakened the connection between teams and the communities they are supposed to represent.

She says she would never have considered naming Mamelodi Sundowns after herself when she was in charge of the club.

“When I took over Mamelodi Sundowns, I didn’t go out and call it Tsichlas XI, because the name is the pride of the team, and of the area it comes from.

“When doing that, you’re losing the identity, because you spend so many years marketing and developing a name, and all of a sudden you’re killing it. Then you have to wait another 30 years for people to remember your new name,” she explained.

Tsichlas also questioned why the PSL allows clubs to undergo such changes, saying that the practice is not common elsewhere in the world.

“I don’t agree with this. With due respect to the owners of the clubs, I don’t understand how the PSL agrees to it. That’s my opinion as a football person who’s been all over the world, and I’m in FIFA. I don’t see that happening in other parts of the world.”

“Here in South Africa, the identity of teams is missing.”

She believes established names such as Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Lamontville Golden Arrows and AmaZulu continue to benefit from long-standing public recognition, while other clubs have struggled to build a similar following.

“All I want to say is we’ve lost as a PSL. Everybody remembers Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Lamontville Golden Arrows, AmaZulu, but the rest of the teams, even today, are still changing names.

“They don’t get the support they were supposed to get. People don’t identify themselves with these other teams. It will take them a very long time to do so.”

Tsichlas used Bloemfontein Celtic as an example of the strength a club identity can retain, even after its position in the top flight has changed.

“Let’s make an example of Bloemfontein Celtic. Even today, people don’t leave Bloemfontein Celtic they still wear the club’s merchandise. That’s because they identify with one of the big brands. Today in the PSL, we have teams from Limpopo and Mpumalanga who are based in Johannesburg. That is very difficult for a fan, because you are not close to your favourite team.”

She also urged club owners who cannot devote enough time to their teams to appoint trusted football professionals to oversee their operations.

Tsichlas pointed to Patrice Motsepe’s approach as an example, saying his son Tlhopie grew up around the game and was regularly present at matches while he was young.

“I know some of the owners are top businessmen, and they are forced by circumstances and don’t really have time, but they must learn from Patrice [Motsepe]. He’s got his son, Tlhopie, and his son grew up in football because, together in my family, when he was a little child, he was always at the games. So, as a businessman, put somebody you trust there to run the team for you, a person who understands football 100%. The most important thing is the structure you have in your team.”

Despite acknowledging that the PSL remains financially successful, Tsichlas said she has become increasingly concerned by its direction in recent years.

“But what I have seen in the PSL the last couple of years, I’m a little bit disappointed.”