Premier League 30 Africa XI : Lucas Redebe

Lucas Radebe: What needs to happen to make our players attractive to English Premiership teams again.

On Thursday, 29 June, campaign ambassador, Bafana Bafana and Leeds United legend, Lucas Radebe was in conversation with SuperSport’s Lwazi Ziqubu to discuss his involvement in the initiative, in the presence of a live audience as well as viewers tuning in via a live stream.

In an hour-long conversation, the former Leeds captain spoke fondly of his time at Elland Road and the significance of the contributions of the first cohort of African players to play in the world’s best league.

Author

S'bo Gyre

Published

june , 2023

“We [African players] came with something different in the way we play, especially with our body structure, compared to what they were used to. That elevated the Premier League,” he said.

The Chief, as he’s commonly known as, acknowledged the pressure of representing not only one’s country but also the continent. However, his desire to succeed saw him through.

“As Africans, we always looked back at where we come from. The surname on our backs meant a lot rather than the game itself.”
Having represented “The Peacocks” during an era that boasted a whole host of South African talent such as Mark Fish and Shaun Bartlett in the PL, he lamented Mzansi’s regression on football’s world stage.

“We have the talent in South Africa but the passion and the love is questionable,” he reflected. Over and above administrative improvements, he passed the gauntlet to the players to elevate themselves.

“The talent is there - we’re not far off. If we can invest more in the element of professionalism away from the game, it would be absolutely brilliant.”
With Burnley’s Lyle Foster being the sole South African player in this upcoming Premier League season, his advice to Vincent Kompany’s target man was simple.

“The first three years are very important. Dig deep and put your head down and you would’ve achieved your goal. Where you are, give 100% effort and do your best to improve your game.”

In a campaign that Radebe described as a “joy and honour” to be a part of, fans have had an opportunity to vote for eleven (11) of their favourite African players from a pool of 30, with voting closing on 30 June 2023.

The media event was a precursor for another media event in Lagos on Wednesday, 05 July before the Gala Dinner, also in Lagos on Thursday 06 July 2023. There, the PL 30 Africa XI, voted by the fans, will be revealed in a glitzy evening befitting of Africa’s PL Kings.

What a Time to be African: A Triumph of Unity and Inspiration

In the crisp autumn of 2023, the echoes of victory still reverberate through the hearts of millions across the African continent. The Springboks, with their triumphant win at the Rugby World Cup, etched not just their names in history but crafted an inspiring narrative of unity and inspiration for a generation.