The DStv Premiership's ability to attract South American footballers with national caps has been pumped up as being 'progressive' though consideration should still be made about the rankings of those countries.
Mamelodi Sundowns 'broke the bank' in July 2022 in landing Marcelo Allende.
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Allende has captained the Chilean national Under-20 team before earning a cap for the senior team.
However, since sitting on the bench for a 3-2 win over Bolivia in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier in February 2022, Allende has not been called up to the Chile national squad.
This has left questions hanging about if this was a regressive move for Allende considering that South Americans take little to no interest in African football.
"At the rate of which South Americans are arriving in the PSL, I think it is important for the CONMEBOL region not to underestimate South Africa as just being a country in Africa," says retired Brazilian winger Camilo Freitas who had a stint with Orlando Pirates in 1988.
Chiefs have also landed Venezuelan international Edson Daniel Castillo in this window.
Castillo will become only the third Venezuelan to play for Chiefs after Jose Torrealba and Gustavo Paez.
The 29-year-old has signed a two-year deal with an option of a further year with his package vastly improving from what he has been earning at Monagas SC in the Venezuelan Primera Division.
Castillo arrives having played in the 2023 Copa Libertadores group stages and has won six caps for Venezuela.
"With a country like Brazil, it is virtually impossible to have a national team player in South Africa which I think is the same for Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia who are traditionally the stronger football-playing nations in South America.
"But then with the likes of Venezuela and Bolivia, and maybe Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Paraguay it is possible, but it also takes a lot of convincing.
"South Americans' priority is Europe and after that, it is either a return home or Asia if not going to the USA or Mexico which is closer to home.
"You can't judge a Brazilian or Argentine on the fact that he has never played for his national team.
"Even with Uruguay, it is the same because they are a top-ranked nation which is why those that have come to South Africa have not been able to play in the national team.
"I see the boy from Chile was captain of the Under-20 team and won a cap for the senior team having also been with Arsenal on trials.
"If the PSL can now attract players with such qualities then that is huge progress.
"I know it has previously been easier to get Venezuelans with caps because they are not at the top here in South America.
"I have watched the midfielder who has gone to Chiefs, and he is an interesting player for me.
"As it stands, I hope these are the two players that will earn the PSL further respect in this part of the world.
"South Africa will now become attractive for more South Americans," says Freitas, who spoke to KickOff.com from home in Curitiba, Brazil.
For South American players with caps, Venezuela provides the hub.
Venezuela (55) are the second lowest-ranked CONMEBOL nation in the latest FIFA rankings and have an average FIFA ranking of 71.
At their best went up to as high as 25 in November 2019 while their worst was 129 in November 1998.
La Guardia Nacional have never been to the World Cup and their best at Copa America has only been fourth place which was in 2011.
Dudamel still remains the most prominent South American to play in the PSL.
The retired goalkeeper earned 58 caps for Venezuela and was still called up through his season of battles at Sundowns where he made eight appearances in the 2005/06 season before leaving.
Jose Torrealba won caps for Venezuela while playing in the PSL for Sundowns.
Erwin Saavedra came to Sundowns having earned caps for the worst-ranked CONMEBOL country at the moment – Bolivia.
However, the last of his 18 caps was before he joined Sundowns where he has struggled for minutes and is now facing the risk of being loaned out.
Saavedra is still to play 90 minutes for Sundowns since joining from Bolivar La Paz in his homeland and has only played 10 games in all competitions which has justifiably contributed to him losing his national team place.
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