Soccer is intensely followed, and the quality of the local game keeps improving – as demonstrated by the growing number of South African players in exile among the glamorous European clubs.
Local teams, organized in a national league plus a plethora of knock-out cups, are followed passionately by smeared painting, costumed, whistling and cheering fans. Fortunately, the country has been spared by the specter of hooliganism.
There probably no quicker way to "break the ice" between the countries of South Africa on the street to demonstrate some knowledge of local football. To help improve your conversational skills, here's a crash course on the most important teams in the country and competitions.
Bafana Bafana
In 1992, two years before the first democratic elections in the country, the team united South Africa, has emerged, playing Cameroon in its first game in Durban, July 9. It was an occasion of triumph for the side that came to be known as Bafana Bafana – "The Boys "- as they edged the Central West Africa by a goal to nil. However, victory concealed the negative effects that apartheid isolation had been imposed on local football.
When South Africa hosted the 1996 African Cup of Nations, however, South Africa demonstrated they belonged to the final by beating Tunisia 2-0 in the final. It was during the performance of the team to the title that its nickname, "Bafana Bafana ", became known throughout the world.
Banyana Banyana
South Africa, the senior women's team, Banyana Banyana – "The Girls" – have traditionally been the best team in South Africa and one of the best in Africa.
Banyana Banyana were crowned COSAFA (Confederation of Football Associations of South Africa) champions in 2002 and 2006. In continental competition team finished second behind Nigeria in the CAF African Championship Women's in 2000 and second in the All Africa Games in 2003 and 2007.
GLAMOR CLUBS
Kaizer Chiefs
Favorite Football Club of South Africa never seems to play an away game. "The Amakhozi" often draw more supporters at away games than their opposition.
Orlando Pirates
Formed in 1937, Orlando Pirates has a support base beyond its borders.
Two winners When the SA Premier Soccer League since its inception in 1997, "The Buccaneers" are the only South African team so far to win competition clubs in Africa, the Champions League, a feat they achieved in 1995.
Mamelodi Sundowns, Supersport United
While Chiefs and Pirates have long battled for the title of the most popular club in South Africa, other outfits have sprung up to challenge for the position, two of Tshwane / Pretoria-based clubs: Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport United.
Backed by billionaire mining magnate Patrice Motsepe, Mamelodi Sundowns have the financial means to provide a squad with depth and quality. The club is often compared to Chelsea England who rose to prominence partly through the support of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Premier Soccer LEAGUE
Championship football in Africa South High, featuring the best in the country, 16 clubs, was born in 1997.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has helped to raise the level of football Clubs in South Africa, providing the sport with better media coverage and greatly improved revenue through strong sponsorship contracts.
Sponsorship boom
In June 2007, the PSL astonishingly successful when he signed a r1.6 billion deal with SuperSport International broadcast.
And in August 2008, the cellular giant MTN committed the same amount – R400-billion over five years – to the local game, taking over the title sponsorship the Top 8 knockout tournament. These deals combined have made the South Africa Premier Soccer League's seventh largest income support sponsorship from football leagues around the world.
KNOCKOUT COMPETITION
A number of knockout competitions will play alongside football championships in South Africa.
Nedbank Cup
A competition to eliminate direct model of the famous FA Cup in England, giving lower league teams the chance to do battle with Premier League clubs, has been in existence since 1978 under different names: the Mainstay Cup (1978-1987), Bobsave Superbowl (1988-2002), Absa Cup (2003-07) and, since 2008, the Nedbank Cup.
MTN 8
The MTN 8 – formerly the Top 8 and Supa 8 – is challenged at the beginning of each season of Premier League Soccer by top eight in the standings last season.
Now known as the MTN 8 Knockout after cellular operator MTN has taken over title sponsorship, The tournament boasts an R8-million winner takes all costs – while ensuring that each team R800 000 just for participating.
Telkom Knockout
Telkom knockout competition, which includes all 16 teams for Premier Soccer League on a knockout finals, African football is the second most lucrative national competition after the Nedbank Cup.
The first competition in 1992 and existed under several different names, including Coca-Cola Cup and the Rothmans Cup.
FIRST DIVISION
Below the Premier Soccer League, Africa South soccer first division is divided into two – the Inland Stream and the Stream of coastline – with each stream is composed of eight clubs.
To the end of each season the winners of the two currents meet in the final with a place in the Premier Soccer League in game (instead of the team that finished ranked last in the PSL). The second placed team, however, still has a chance to make the PSL.
The club took second place two finishers First Division, and the team who finished second last in the PSL, in a mini-tournament, whose winner earns a spot in the top league.
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – South Africa’s Football dividions
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