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De Sa: DStv Prem is quickly catching up to North Africa

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Roger de Sa Coach of Maritzburg United seems confused at some of the referee calls during the Absa Premiership 2016/17 game between Maritzburg United and Free State Stars at Harry Gwala Stadium, Pietermaritzburg on 26 February 2017 © Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
  • Post published:April 12, 2022

Egyptian national team assistant coach Roger De Sa believes the DStv Premiership is quickly catching up to the North African leagues, pointing to Mamelodi Sundowns’ growth into “the strongest team in Africa”.

The former Orlando Pirates coach has been in North Africa as an assistant in the Egyptian national team and has thus seen how things operate in North Africa.

Speaking to KickOff.com, the former Maritzburg United coach admitted that while North African leagues are stronger, South Africa are catching up quickly.

“I think, first of all, it’s the experience they’ve got up there,” said De Sa.

“Obviously, they’ve got good strong leagues, but I think South Africa is catching up fast now.

“I think the whole stigma of the clubs pulling out of these continental competitions is now no more.

“I mean Mamelodi Sundowns are the strongest team at the moment in Africa. I think they’ve set their eyes on winning the Champions League, obviously, Patrice Motsepe has put a lot of money into it.

“The chartered flights, the top hotels, the quality players and that’s something the African clubs also do. Teams like TP Mazembe were successful because they had an owner who put in a lot of money, so they were able to compete.

“Now he has pulled back a little bit and they are not as strong as they used to be.

“The North Africans, I think the proximity to Europe helps them, it helped them in the past with the coaching and the influence from Europe, they are just across the sea there.

“In South Africa, the top players play in South Africa, I think in those countries their top players are playing in Europe.

“So, those clubs they keep producing players and they keep going abroad.

“I think South African clubs are just benefiting from keeping all their best players in South Africa.

“The North Africans, if you look at Algeria and Morroco, the whole national team plays in Europe.

“With Egypt, we’ve got four or five players playing in Europe.”

Asked whether he thought the North Africans were better than the South Africans in terms of talent, De Sa didn’t mince his words.

“Of course, I mean why do they have their top players playing in top clubs in Europe? It’s no fluke.

“Our top player plays in Egypt, I mean … come on.”