KAIZER Motaung has joined fellow club boss Irvin Khoza in defending their clubs, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, against criticism of a "plus-minus R1bn" sponsorship from Vodacom.

Supersport United coach Gavin Hunt and club COO Jose Ferreira said the sponsorship would distort the players' market, leading to the domination of the league's three richest clubs - Mamelodi Sundowns (backed by mining magnate Patrice Motsepe), Pirates and Chiefs - at the expense of the other 13.

Khoza described the criticism as a "mindless tirade". Motaung said he remained unhappy with the remarks by Hunt and Ferreira. Supersport International chief executive Happy Ntshingila and his counterpart at MultiChoice, Imtiaz Patel, have distanced their organisations from the criticism.

Patel said he had spoken to Khoza and Motaung to reassure them that the sponsorship was "a massive development for sport in this country for which they deserve congratulations".

Motaung said yesterday that he had accepted an apology from MultiChoice.

"The PSL is regarded as being within the top 10 leagues in the world in terms of its financial strength, governance and administrative ability," Motaung said.

"The clubs of the PSL have collectively benefited hugely from this, financially as well as through the technical and administrative support that the PSL has provided. This has only been possible because Chiefs and Pirates, which account for over 60% of the soccer fan base in this country, made concessions in order to elevate the collective.

"Clubs such as Supersport United have had a disproportionate benefit from these concessions, especially in light of the size of their fan base."