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TEMPTED AWAY: Katlego Mphela is one of the key players who were signed by Mamelodi Sundowns from SuperSport United. Photo: Gallo Images

 In my opinion Moroka Swallows, who finished second on the log table, won the league considering the shoestring budget they had for the season 

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This was the scathing accusation delivered by SuperSport United's Gavin Hunt and Jose Ferreira.

Hunt, a three-time league championship winner with United, and Ferreira, the club's chief operating officer, were speaking against the backdrop of yet another massive sponsorship for glamour clubs Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

They said that Vodacom's "plus-minus R1 billion" deal - in the words of Pirates boss Irvin Khoza - over five years with Bucs and Chiefs, and mining magnate Patrice Motsepe's continuing patronage of Mamelodi Sundowns, believed to be in the millions each season, would turn the rest of the league into also-rans.

Vodacom refused to reveal the size of its sponsorship of Pirates and Chiefs, but marketing head Enzo Scarcella said the clubs could anticipate making more than R1bn "as the turnover of the cellphone industry is R100bn a year".

Hunt and Ferreira were worried that the money in Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns would distort the player market and that United could lose players to the three clubs.

Over the past four years, Sundowns have signed four big-name players from Matsatsantsa: Siboniso Gaxa, Katlego Mphela, Elias Pelembe and Anthony Laffor.

The Buccaneers snatched Teko Modise in 2008, while Amakhosi are set to lure captain Morgan Gould for next season.

Ferreira said Vodacom's money had guaranteed the Soweto giants would have no competition in the market, with "other PSL teams just making up the numbers".

Clubs were also up in arms last year when the Telkom Charity Cup was scrapped to make way for the Carling Black Label tournament, which is restricted to Pirates and Chiefs.

"It is not sustainable to have these sponsorship deals and we will never compete. It irks me when I hear (Chiefs' chairman) Kaizer Motaung say SuperSport is the richest team in the country. I'm sure he's changed his mind about that now," said Ferreira.

He said it was difficult to keep their star players, but added that money could not guarantee success, citing Sundowns as an example.

Hunt, whose side will take on Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup final on Saturday, also took a swipe at Pirates for their big splash on new players. "In my opinion Moroka Swallows, who finished second on the log table, won the league considering the shoe-string budget they had for the season."

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Mon May 20 01:25:04 SAST 2013 ::

May 22, 2012

asaowe

I believe sponsor’s are bias, for 1 Vodacom is used by millions of sa citizen nut only chfs & pirates supporters, it would hv been fair if money is toward a league cup where all da teams benefits, 2nd 4 five years steak on the league has always been 10m why it doesn’t increases as everythg else does, 10m u get 2day has less impact compare 2 5yrs back, bring back telkom charisty where all 16 teams wll be voted 4, eish capitalist nxa.
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May 22, 2012

Mtswalerr

People should accept in life things will never be equal.There will always be the rich and the poor and those in the middle. There will always be big companies and small ones and fly-by-nights. Whether we like it or not.I do respect your point asaowe but it is Vodacom that chose to sponser who and with how much.Unfortunately whiule some develeopment projects are overlooked it is not fair for a professional coach to say in his opinion Birds won the league.What an insult to the institution Buccanears who put so much efforts in winning the league honours.What about the energies and selflessness of amongst others Ruben Cloete who avaialed himself imediately after burying his father. Hunt should fist strat his thinking abilities before he jump and put his gear into highest gear n tell his opinion which are boring and irritating. Let him be told keep your opinion to your Supersport they will need it in the Nedbank final as we are not interested in them.
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May 22, 2012

RaRaga

They have kids to provide for
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May 22, 2012

MGEEZ

Hunt likes to mourn!!!
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May 22, 2012

Jojo104

Hunt, should recall that Swallows inability to make itselt attractive to higkly skilled players can not be blamed to Pirates, just because the won the league.

This happens every where that more money, more power. Take an example with France, US, or UK Military Camp, and compare it to Malawi,Tanzania or Swaziland Military Camp, then he would understand it better that: reinforce your Camp for as long as you can finacially do, to stay several steps ahead of your opponets. So, if we see you succeeding against your opponents, then we should not treat you as a cheater. Because Olando Pirates were fielding 11 players on the field, sometimes less than that, like other teams, e.g Swallows.

The sky is the limit, Bafana ba Style, Downs for ever...
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May 22, 2012

Mhungumbye

How much do you get from Super sport company entlik?
Survival of the fittest you cry baby.
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May 22, 2012

Siya5297

@mtswalerr
Dont confuse issues, Hunt has nothing to do or doesnt care if yo Ruben Cloete avails himself or not. The issue is that the league in the long run will be not competitive, just in South African rugby whereby small teams can noit compete with the big teams cause of the sponsorship they are getting, well I am not saying personally vodacom did a bad thing im just concerned about the future of PSL.

Sometimes I think the football structure of SA is the cause of this how on earth you are from Cape Town but you are a fan of Chiefs etc, but ppl have their choices but if you look the rugby model the majority of ppl from WC are province and Boland fans, FS cheaters etc, which means this teams have a support base and sponsors can plough their money well.
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May 22, 2012

dulas6

Hunt you should also ask SuperSport to give 1billion!!!

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May 22, 2012

Indomitably

dnt b gullibl hunt,lyf is nvr fair. da only thin dat u xud do is 2 fyt 4 survival
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May 22, 2012

ancnduntsu

@mtswalerr
Hey,idiot,read the article!! You are now PSYCHOTIC ,RODENT.
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