Stars of Africa Academy founder Farouk Khan wants the South African Football Association (Safa) to step in and help compensate development academies for the millions they spend developing players that end up on the books of top PSL clubs.
Under the slogan “Dream Factory”, Stars of Africa officially launched their academy that has produced the likes of May Mahlangu, Tokelo Rantie, Tefu Mashamaite and Patrick Maswanganyi.
Khan said although the factory has produced so much talent in SA, he has received compensation for less than five players out of more than 20 that he has produced.
“We always brag about 23 professional players that we produced, and I’ll sit here and honestly tell you, if you take Rantie, [Qobolwethu] Sibande who’s now at Stellenbosch and Luther Singh out of the equation, I have to think very hard now where we got any funding back,” Khan told Sunday World.
“With Sibusiso Kumalo, at least we got some money from Chiefs when he signed but I can tell you that not more than five players did we receive any compensation for. And the reason is very simple.”
Khan said he has not received any compensation from SuperSport United or Orlando Pirates for reigning PSL Players Player of the season Patrick Maswanganyi, despite investing almost R500 000 to develop the player.
“Sadly now, Patrick Maswanganyi has signed for Orlando Pirates. We invested five to six years housing him, feeding him, schooling him.
“One of my partners spent almost R500 000 to keep him in Portugal for two years, because in Portugal, what people don’t understand, when a player goes there, there’s no red carpet for a player to just move in.
“You look at Genino Palace, who is now at Stellenbosch. He was there with Patrick and my partner had to sponsor both players for two years – food, accommodation, trainer, etc.
“Until Safa steps in and says to clubs, listen, you can’t just take when you want to. There must be some form of compensation.”
