By Akani Nkuna
Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairman Dr Irvin Khoza revealed on Wednesday the prize money for the champions of the inaugural Betway Premiership, following a long period of suspense and anticipation by football followers.
This exciting development comes after Betway announced its three-year R900 million partnership with the PSL in July 2024, replacing DStv as the headline sponsor.
“When we announced the Betway sponsorship two things that we omitted to announce at that point and time, subject to internal discussions in the executive committee, was the prize money. Today I am going to announce the prize money of the winner only; the winner the Betway Premiership will (receive) R20 million,” said Khoza.
Khoza convened a media briefing at the PSL headquarters in Johannesburg to address any lingering matters and ensure a smooth transition, as his tenure draws to a close this week.
However, he remains the favourite candidate when voting takes place next week.
“This week is my last week as chairman, because next week there are elections. We must mop up all the outstanding issues for proper housekeeping,” he said.
The prize money was not the only issue that was left unresolved at the start of the season.
The trophy is another aspect of this partnership which is still unknown and Khoza has implied that it is going to be one for the books.
“The trophy is going to take a very unique journey, because it is a trophy that has got a lot of history, a lot of culture elements around it. But it is going to take some time to finalise,” he said.
“[The trophy] is the story on its own… watch the space, because it is something monumental, something historical and something best to come out of this country. It has got so many things that are beautiful that we forget to talk about ourselves,” he added.
Meanwhile, Betway and PSL continue to embrace their relationship even beyond the football field, with a joint initiative to promote responsible gambling launched on Wednesday.
November marks National Responsible Gambling Month.
Betway CEO Laurence Michel said that “as proud title sponsors of the Betway Premiership, we continue to act on our responsibility as a leading global sports betting brand, to educate our customers and the South African public about responsible gambling”.
Betway’s commitment to responsible gambling was honoured at the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation’s (SARGF) 20th anniversary gala, receiving an award for “Best Responsible Gambling Operator Messaging and Marketing Campaign”.
SARGF executive director Sibongile Simelane-Quntana said that their aim was to partner with Betway and the PSL during this month was to raise awareness about the potential dangers of gambling.
They would also provide crucial information on accessible, free support services such as counselling and treatment for individuals struggling with gambling addiction.
“SARGF’s mandate is to prioritise the well-being of gamblers and their families by leading advocacy and raising awareness about responsible gambling,” she said.
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