Alexandre Lafitte calls for greater opportunities for young players in Betway Premiership

Former Marumo Gallants coach Alexandre Lafitte says the Betway Premiership must provide more regular first-team opportunities for young South African players if the league is to continue developing.

The 29-year-old French coach spent about nine months in charge of Marumo Gallants FC after joining at the start of the 2025/26 season. His time at the club ended in March after a challenging spell that included a suspension.

Speaking in the September edition of KICK OFF Magazine, Lafitte identified youth development as the main area in which the PSL can improve, while also praising the strengths of South African football.

“For me, there are two aspects. The positive one is that South African football is gaining visibility. The PSL has good infrastructure, a solid economy and a lot of potential,” he said.

“The area for progress is the pathway for young players. In Europe, when clubs do not know a league well, they generally recruit very young players with high potential.

“In South Africa, few young players get regular minutes at the highest level, because many clubs prefer experience.

“A player who is 23 or 24 is still often described as young. In Europe, at that age, he is expected to have professional experience and responsibilities. That gap makes moving abroad harder for South African players.”

Lafitte, who was previously known as the coach of Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, said improving the league must begin with investment in player development rather than focusing solely on sending talent overseas.

“You have to invest in academies and support young players early. But the objective should not only be to export players to Europe,” he added.

“The most important thing is to raise the overall level of the PSL.

“The stronger the league becomes, the more naturally it produces high-level players.”

He also called for clubs to be given greater support as they work towards establishing a stronger high-performance structure.

“That means supporting clubs with the resources they have and helping them move towards a real high-performance culture: infrastructure, physical preparation, performance analysis, staff education, daily organisation,” Lafitte said.

The former Marumo Gallants coach believes progress across those areas would improve both the league and the players it produces.

“To become a great league, you have to create environments where every detail helps players improve. The Betway Premiership can progressively become one of the best leagues in the world.”