Following grievances of ‘lack of support’ by Limpopo Betway Premiership teams in recent years, MEC for LEDET Tshitereke Matibe has assured their backing for professional teams ahead of the new season.
The 2024/25 Betway Premiership season will kick start this weekend with three teams from the far north province.
Polokwane City FC, Sekhukhune United and Magesi FC are the three representatives from the Limpopo province. FARPost has established that each of the three teams currently receives R1 million from the Limpopo Tourism Agency, an entity of the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment & Tourism [LEDET].
WILL LIMPOPO BETWAY PREMIERSHIP GET MORE MONETARY FUNDING FROM THE GOVERNMENT?
The clubs have always argued that the monetary support could be improved to allow them to compete in the professional set-up as they contribute massively to Tourism in the province.
Speaking to the media during their recent Tourism Thursdays campaign, LEDET MEC Tshitereke Matibe says there are plans to meet with the clubs soon to ensure their support.
“The support remains from Limpopo Tourism. I have a programme in place where I will meet with all the teams in the PSL [Betway Premiership],” Matibe said.
“I am going to do that together with the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture [Funani Maseko].”
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR PROFESSIONAL TEAMS TO GET MORE SUPPORT IN ORDER TO COMPETE
“We are meeting all the professional teams and we want to say to them, that you still have our support as Tourism and LEDET and the support will continue,” he said.
“We know that sports Tourism is also one of the important factors that will contribute to making us number one. So if we support the sports sector then of course Tourism will come. They don’t only come for football, after football, they come back to visit the natural attractions that we have.
“They have our full support, I am going to meet them in a week or two. I have already agreed with the MEC for Sport that we need to meet all the teams in the PSL and we are still going to support them through Tourism. That is guaranteed.”
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Ofhani Munyai
farpost.co.za
