Salomon Kalou praises South Africa’s PSL competitiveness

Former Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou has praised the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) for its intensity and quality, arguing that its standard is comparable to European football as overseas interest in local talent continues to rise.

South Africa’s strong showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has further elevated the profile of South Africa, even though their campaign ended in the Round of 32 following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Canada.

Several players from the squad have since been linked with potential moves abroad. Midfielder Teboho Mokoena is reportedly attracting interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia, while winger Relebohile Mofokeng has been monitored by teams in Belgium. Defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi is also believed to have drawn attention from clubs in the English Premier League.

Despite that growing transfer speculation, Kalou believes the strength of the domestic game in South Africa means many players are not automatically driven toward Europe.

Speaking at a SuperSport media roundtable, the former Ivory Coast international highlighted the deep emotional connection players have with leading PSL clubs.

“I think the thing is, you guys have a very strong league, and that also creates a situation where the players already have their dream team,” Kalou said.

“You know, if you’re growing up here in South Africa, your dream is to play for either Mamelodi Sundowns or Orlando Pirates or Kaizer Chiefs. That’s the dream, right?”

He contrasted that pathway with his own experience in Ivory Coast, where young players typically view Europe as the ultimate destination.

“So, I don’t know if the goal is always to go to Europe, because if you’re playing for your dream club, where you’re happy and you’re home, sometimes you have that in the back of your head: ‘I’m happy where I am, I don’t need to move.’”

Kalou added that, in West Africa, the ambition to move abroad often comes much earlier.

“For us, it’s different because when we are in Ivory Coast, the goal is to go and play in Europe as soon as possible,” he said.

“At 16, you’re already thinking, ‘I want to go to Europe.’ So you develop a different mentality because your goal is to get there.”

The comments come amid a broader debate about whether Africa’s strongest domestic leagues can retain top talent in the face of increasing global scouting networks following major tournaments like the 2026 FIFA World Cup.