Six months ago there were 102 foreign-born players registered with the PSL by the 16 clubs in the country’s top league which shows a considerable decrease from the beginning of the year. However, only five clubs have already exhausted their foreign quota, meaning the number of foreign players can still increase.
Of the 88 registered foreign-born players, 27 have already acquired permanent residence permits which allows them – as holders of South African identity documents – to be registered as ‘locals’ but they continue to be eligible to play for their countries of birth as they still hold passports of their respective nations. At the last count in January, 29 of the 102 foreign born players that were registered with the PSL held permanent residence permits.
Six months ago the PSL had 499 players in total registered by all PSL clubs but that number has decreased to 440 as of this morning, with the average PSL squad size now standing at 28. Of all the players registered with the PSL by all the 16 clubs, 352 are available for Bafana Bafana selection.
As usual, Mamelodi Sundowns provide the highest number of foreign players with 11 players in their 36-man squad having been born outside the borders of South Africa, including exciting new signings Christantus Ejike Uzoenyi from Nigeria and Zimbabwean Kudakwashe ‘Nkembe’ Mahachi.
According to the registration list, Sundowns have the biggest squad (36) in the PSL despite the fact that they have at least another half a dozen players on their books who are not registered and remain ‘parked’ at Chloorkop, including another five foreign players.
Moroka Swallows have the smallest squad with just 23 players registered to date.
Orlando Pirates have the least foreigners on their books, registering just two in Issa Sarr (Senegal) and Helder Justino Pelembe (Mozambique). Likewise, Polokwane City also have only two foreign internationals in Malawian striker Esau Kanyenda and Zambian defender Joseph Musonda, though the latter holds permanent residence.
According to the PSL, Sundowns, Maritzburg United, Free State Stars, Mpumalanga Black Aces and University of Pretoria are the five clubs that have already exhausted their foreign quota, with the majority of clubs having registered four foreign players.
PSL clubs are allowed to register five foreign players but holders of permanent residence permits – which then gives them access to South African identity documents – are not considered as foreigners.
The first division has just 16 foreign-born players registered for now, with nine of the 16 NFD clubs having no foreign players registered.