On Thursday, South Africa’s premier division announced DStv as their new official sponsors for the PSL. The multichoice brand will take over from ABSA, the title sponsors for the last 13 years, until the end of the 2019/2020 season.
According to the official press release, the Premier Soccer League has signed a five-year contract to be the premier division’s new title division. The deal is a continuation of a fruitful and vibrant partnership between the multichoice brand and the PSL.
The PSL has grown to become among the world’s top 10 football leagues since signing its broadcast rights deal with DStv in 2007. As a result, the PSL has not only grabbed the attention of leading bookies like Betway but also attracted top stars from the continent and beyond. Even better, the PSL is growing the best local talent.
Over the years, stars have been born on the PSL field, bringing joy to millions of football fans in South Africa and beyond. DStv has also managed to give joy to millions of people globally, creating a platform for superstars to entertain and flourish. Fortunately, entertainment and football are entrenched in South Africa’s way of life.
Added to the experience is the Multichoice Diski Challenge, a reserve league that has supported star players like Lyle Foster and Percy Tau – who now have flourishing careers internationally. According to PSL Chairman Irvin Khoza, the rise of DStv Premiership comes a natural evolution of their long-standing relationship.
The deal will allow soccer punters to continue wagering on their favorite PSL teams with Betway soccer betting, and it’s also a powerful synergy because of what it offers football supporters. Additionally, the development of the DStv Premiership marks a new dawn for the South African PSL by combining the best of entertainment and sport.
As the PSL continues to evolve to improve its product, DStv will fully back the league while giving fans plenty of local content. For Dr. Khoza, the PSL and DStv are hooked to the core to create enhanced consumption of South African football by their supporters.
For Multichoice CEO Calvo Mawela, the deal between DStv and the PSL shows the essence of what the two organizations represent. In his statement, Mawela said the DStv premiership represents a coalition between two leading organizations that deeply connect with South Africans emotionally.
Before signing the deal, Bidvest Group was rumored to take over from ABSA after ending its partnership with the Wits. This was after the South African trading, services, and distribution company sold their PSL status to NFD side Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.
In recent months, other leading companies like Telcom and Betway have also expressed their interest in sponsoring the league. However, DStv has been officially announced as the new sponsors for the next five years, starting from the upcoming 2020/2021 season set to kick off from next month. That means more games will be televised globally more than ever, deliberately creating a space for South Africans to be proud of the PSL and call it their own.
