LaLiga have made a big announcement about their new and exciting project to bring the league closer to African football fans. Check it out!
The 2022/23 LaLiga campaign is back in full swing with all eyes on the race for the league, top four and relegation battle. After a number of marquee signings, the anticipation is likely to be higher than ever.
Scroll through the gallery above to see some pictures from the launch
Just like every season, the focus is on growth and expansion in the African market as this continent is one of the fastest growing regions with an active presence in nations such as South Africa, Ghana, Angola, Egypt, Nigeria and Zambia.
For this campaign, LaLiga also announced a new continental online show called 'LaLiga Loca' that will bring the Spanish side closer to African football fans. The show is kicking off with a legendary guest in Nigeria icon Finidi George who will feature when the show takes place in September.
LaLiga has also concluded a strategic football and business consultancy agreement with Zambian giants Zanaco FC, the third such partnership on the continent after similar projects with Angola's Petro Luanda and Tanzania's Yanga FC.
"We are very happy to be back up and running with the LaLiga Santander season and especially glad to see the considerable African interest and excitement in the league," said LaLiga Southern Africa Managing Director, Marcos Pelegrin, at a networking event at the Mesh club in Johannesburg today
"African players like Eduardo Camavinga at Real Madrid, Cote D'Ivoire's Franck Kessie at Barcelona, Nigeria's Samuel Chukwueze at Villareal and Morrocan stars like Yassine Bounou and Youseff En-Nesyri at Sevilla FC have helped raise the profile of LaLiga on the African continent.
"And we have been capitalising on that interest and on the strength of the league by expanding our African strategy and strengthening our presence on the ground with a number of exciting projects and partnerships on the African continent."
Banyana Banyana star Thembi Kgatlana, who used to play for Atletico Madrid Femenino, was at the session on Tuesday and gave an insight into Atletico and how important the Madrid derby was for the city's football fanatics.
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"Spanish football is much like South African football, played with flair and directness," the 26-year-old said.
"If you have been to a derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, you see how passionate people are and that's also the case when Atletico play Real Madrid.
"You really feel the intensity and passion of the Real fans and for any South African football fan you have to put the Madrid derby on your bucket list to experience the passion, emotion and atmosphere of the derby.
"It's amazing to see how passionate people are about women's football in Spain and it was an honour to play for both Eibar and Atletico."