Former Chelsea and Nigerian midfield maestro, John Obi-Mikel, recently expressed his views on the lack of South African players seeking careers abroad.
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Mikel attributed this trend to the high level of competitiveness in the South African DStv Premier League, which he hailed as the best on the African continent.
Speaking during the UEFA Europa League trophy tour in Johannesburg, Mikel shared his perspective: “I think it’s not the mentality. I think it’s your organization. Your organization is better than ours.”
John Obi-Mikel emphasized the exceptional quality of the South African league, which, in his opinion, negates the necessity for players to seek opportunities overseas.
He explained, “If you look at your league, it is that good that a player doesn’t have to go abroad to make ends meet. Your league is way more organized than other leagues [in Africa]. It’s the best league in our continent right now.”
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He further highlighted the aspirations of Nigerians to elevate their own league to match the standards set by the South African DStv Premier League. “So, that’s something that we Nigerians have been crying about. We want to see our league better; we know we can do that.”
Mikel’s insights reflect the admiration for the South African league’s organization and competitiveness, which keeps South African players closer to home while also serving as inspiration for improvement in other African leagues.
