Palacios: Parents can take their kids to PSL games now

Veteran coach Augusto Palacios says even though the inception of the Premier Soccer League was accompanied by a change in the face of South African football, there is room for improvement.

The PSL, one of the top leagues on the continent, is celebrating 30 years of its existence this month.

READ | Tsichlas: PSL was much better 30 years ago

“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,” reflects Palacios, speaking to KickOff.

The first thing that has improved

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

“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.

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

“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

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

“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.

In the past, we used to have teams

“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.

READ | PSL turns 30 | How linesmen were recruited from the road for a PSL match

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

Born in Peru, Palacios has coached a number of teams in Mzansi, and was one of the coaches during Bucs’ double treble years just after 2010.