The CEO of Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA), Sello Maleka, has sent his blessings to provincial professional soccer teams Sekhukhune United and Marumo Gallants for the current 2022/23 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season.
Limpopo three teams Baroka FC, Black Leopards and Polokwane City were relegated to the second division which affected the province’s economy and tourist attraction projections.
Should the relegated teams regain promotion to the PSL next season, Limpopo will have five teams contesting professionally, further boosting the province’s economy.
“The PSL off-season has been a great one for our province, the tourism industry, and our people,” said Maleka.
“After a two-year hiatus and the announcement by the PSL that soccer fans will now be able to go to the stadiums and watch PSL matches for the 2022/23 season, [Limpopo has positioned itself] as a tourist destination.
“This was great news to our ears. This announcement ensures that our people benefit fully from the value chain that the hosting of these games brings. This includes sports facilities, tourism establishments, the business community, vendors, and the citizens.”
On July 1, Sekhukhune announced that they will be playing their home games at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, bringing much excitement to their local fans and the people of the province.
Maleka added that the people of Limpopo are enthused that big teams including Kaizer Chiefs, AmaZulu and Supersport United will utilise some of the province’s tourism establishments and sports facilities during the current season.
“As a [tourist] destination, we are thankful to the PSL and the teams for the announcements and for choosing our destination. The tourism industry is currently in recovery mode and these visits [by PSL teams] will contribute to our domestic arrival figures and elevate the sports tourism profile of the province,” said Maleka.
“Since the announcements, our team at LTA, led by our newly appointed chief marketing officer Modjadji Makoela, has hit the ground running in preparation for the upcoming season.
“We are currently in talks with the two Limpopo-based teams [Sekhukhune and Gallants] to see how we as a [tourist] destination and the people of Limpopo can benefit from the value chain of the PSL and the hosting of all their home games. We will be making announcements as soon as talks are concluded.”
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa. To Subscribe to Sunday World, click here
