By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairman Irvin Khoza has announced Betway as the new sponsor of the league in a three-year deal worth R900 million.
DStv, sponsors of South African top-flight football since 2020 after taking over from Absa, have pulled out of their agreement with the PSL.The contract between the PSL and DStv was set to come to an end in September 2025.
Khoza addressed the members of the media in a press conference on Wednesday, 24 July 2024 at the PSL headquarters in Parktown.
“We now have the Betway Premiership as the sponsorship of the league. Thank you very much DStv as Premiership sponsor,” said Khoza.
Khoza added that there would be no penalty for Multichoice for exiting the deal early, while the DStv Diski Challenge is a separate five-year deal, and will continue.
However, Khoza stated that the prize money for the league will be announced in due course when everything has been finalised.
“This is the single biggest investment in South African sport,” claimed Betway’s CEO Laurence Michel.
“(It) underscores Betway’s commitment to the future of South African sport, and the future of South African football.”
The 2024/25 Betway Premiership will commence on 3 August 2023. The fixtures will be are expected to be released this afternoon.
Betting companies have gained an ever-increasing profile in football sponsorship. At the start of the next English Premier League season, 11 teams will wear the logos of gambling companies on the front of their shirts, though this is set to be banned in England in 2026.
Hollywood Bets sponsor the Safa women’s league, known as the Hollywood Bets Super League, while Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are partners with supersportbet, Stellenbosch FC announced a partnership with Tsogo Sun in May and Golden Arrows have 10bet as a front of shirt sponsor.