Palacios: PSL has made South African football safer and more professional

Veteran coach Augusto Palacios says the Premier Soccer League has transformed South African football over the past 30 years, with supporters now able to take their children to matches without the violence that once marred games.

The PSL, regarded as one of the leading leagues on the African continent, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month. Palacios, who has worked in South African football for decades, believes the competition has made significant progress since its establishment, although he says there are still areas that need attention.

“When I first arrived in this country, the league was still called the NPSL – and that was in 1984 – and from then to today, the football in this country has improved a lot,” Palacios told KickOff.

According to Palacios, the biggest change has been the financial strength of clubs. He recalled a time when teams depended largely on money earned through match-day attendances and sponsorship agreements simply to remain operational.

“The first thing that has improved is the financial part of it. Back then, most teams only survived on gate-takings and sponsorships.”

The coach also highlighted the wider exposure created by television coverage. Supporters can now follow several matches at the same time, while the atmosphere inside stadiums has become safer and more suitable for families.

“Nowadays, you can watch on TV two, three games simultaneously. And also, now supporters are no longer fighting each other in the stands like they used to. Now parents can take their children to PSL matches.”

Palacios added that supporters no longer attempt to influence tactical decisions during matches, another change he views as evidence of greater order within the modern game.

“Supporters are no longer forcing a coach to make a substitution during a match.”

Despite the progress, Palacios believes the PSL should revive the tradition of staging youth matches before senior league fixtures. He suggested that Under-17, Under-19 or DStv Diski Challenge games could be used as curtain-raisers, helping to attract more people to stadiums.

“The only thing that is missing in the PSL era that I believe needs to be brought back is the curtain-raisers before league matches. Allow the Under-17s, Under-19s, or even the DDC [DStv Diski Challenge] to be played in venues just before the main game as curtain-raisers.

“That is going to bring more supporters to PSL matches like it used to happen during the NPSL and the NSL era.”

Palacios also criticised incidents in which members of opposing technical teams clash during warm-ups or after the final whistle. He said coaching staff should set the standard for players and respect the authority of match officials.

“The other lowdown in the PSL era is when the technical staff of a certain team fights with the technical staff of the other team during warm-ups or after the full-time whistle and so on. Technical staff [members] must be an example to the players.

“The referee’s decision must be final at all times,” adds ‘Njenje’, while acknowledging the progress made.

The former coach said that clubs are now better organised in their match-day preparations than they were in the past. Previously, some teams arrived late at stadiums or travelled with only one playing kit. Today, he said, teams typically arrive two hours before kick-off.

“In the past, we used to have teams arriving late in the stadium, teams who would only bring one kit to a match, but nowadays teams arrive in the stadium two hours before kick-off.

“Thanks to the professionalism that has been introduced by the PSL era.”

Born in Peru, Palacios has coached several teams in South Africa. He was also part of the coaching staff during Orlando Pirates’ double treble-winning years shortly after 2010.