Mamelodi Sundowns' Template, Is It Good Enough to Follow to Create a World Class African League?

• Mamelodi Sundowns are the financial leaders of the Premier Soccer League
• Robert Marawa believes clubs should use Masandawana as a template for success
• The sports presenter has been made the ambassador of Showmax's online EPL product

Unchecked input into South Africa's football clubs makes it difficult to assess the output.

Club ownership can swing from erratic cases like Royal AM and Moroka Swallows, to the measured approaches taken by perennial achievers, SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Success too is relative, as Masandawana have a deeper well with which to lure top talent, but Matsatsantsa have remained competitive through a fastidious development policy.

Like with any industry, a lack of competitive remuneration will see a drain of talent. Boosting player salaries is a way to enhance the league, and ensure it remains a lucrative destination.

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Quality South African footballers leave South African shores not only for the challenge, but for better pay. Robert Marawa highlighted Sundowns' Peter Shalulile as a consummate professional kept in South Africa due to his salary.

When asked if there was a problem with Sundowns' ability to pay players disproportionately to other clubs in South Africa, Marawa told Sports Brief:

"Big salaries are what football players should be earning. We should be asking ourselves, 'Why are other clubs paying peanuts to professional football players? They are playing a professional game, give them salaries that they deserve. Sundowns pay players what they believe they deserve."

The renowned sports personality has just taken on a brand ambassador role with Showmax and has been promoting their new Premier League mobile subscription service. Wanting to see the game evolve, he added:

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"We will see the unfortunate death of the game if we do not protect the potential and the capacity of players to earn like they do at Sundowns. There is nothing that stops any of the clubs from acquiring sponsorship, from having foundations, from building whatever legacy Sundowns have built."

Clubs receive a stipend of R2.3 million per month, and with all 16 clubs privately owned, as listed by CashNSport, the ball is at their feet. Marawa advised:

"I just think they need, at some point, to be honest in these tough conversations, very uncomfortable conversations, that football players should earn the top money that they just deserve."

Robert Marawa on Africa's Premier League legacy

Sports Brief recently reported on Marawa's thoughts on what Africa has contributed to the Premier League.

The celebrity sports analyst has just been made ambassador of Showmax's new mobile subscription platform.

Marawa spoke about how African greats have helped fuel desire across the continent and beyond the pitch.