LALIGA Africa's new managing director Tresor Penku has hinted at creating pathways for South African stars in the Spanish top flight.
Spain's top tier is expanding its reach on the African continent as it looks to grow and globalise its league far beyond its borders.
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South Africa has had a handful of players who have plied their trade in LALIGA in the past, including Benni McCarthy, Nasief Morris, and Tshepo Masilela, to name a few.
However, there seems to be a lack of representation of South Africans in the league in recent years, especially in comparison to other African countries such as Nigeria, Morocco and Cameroon, who have had more success in terms of exports.
Speaking exclusively to KickOff following his recent appointment, Penku suggested that the work being done by LALIGA now is set to benefit Mzansi as more opportunities are being created for local stars to experience Spanish football.
"I think that will happen through the different platforms we have created to showcase talent. Mdu [Mduduzi Shabalala of Kaizer Chiefs] was given a good experience at Villarreal to see how professional teams train in Spain, which would have helped him," he explained.
"We aim at creating those pathways and we have training camps and different exchange activities like the Hollywoodbets Women's League players will also be going to Villarreal.
"Those platforms will surely create steady pathways for players to join LALIGA in the future... hopefully."
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Women's football has also taken priority, with LALIGA confirming that two young female stars are awaiting VISA confirmation before travelling to Spain to participate in a player development programme at the LALIGA Academy Madrid.
Striker Nobahle Mdelwa, 15, and 17-year-old Sinazo Ntshota, who play for Dlala Ntombazane FC and City Lads, respectively, will receive world-class football education in Spain after impressing in the SASOL League and 2022 COSAFA Cup.
The two teenagers will be based in Madrid until June 2024 after standing out during trials and being scouted at international U17 tournaments.
Mdelwa hails from Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, while Ntshota is also a burgeoning wonderkid who has already made her senior international debut for Banyana Banyana, at the COSAFA Cup last year.
Penku added that the LALIGA African Player of the Year award, which was won by Nigeria's Samuel Chukwueze in the 2022/23 campaign, is also an initiative that has strengthened the involvement of African people in the league, with the winner being decided through votes.
"The objective behind this initiative is about putting Africa where it belongs," he continued. "It is Africans who decided who represents the continent well in Spain. The voting for the award allows them to choose who is doing an amazing job there and we've seen that many Africans want to have a say. This has had a positive impact and we've seen the engagement increase."
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