Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend explains why he is ‘envious’ of the PSL

Former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou has expressed his delight at the high levels of the Premier Soccer League.

Kalou says the South African league is one of the best in Africa given the huge following, high quality of players and the affinity with fans as well as sponsors, something he wishes his country Ivory Coast had.

Ahead of the Soweto Derby that will see Kaizer Chiefs host Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, Kalou is in the country as part of the game’s launch and is wowed by what he has witnessed so far.

Kalou on what impresses him about PSL

Salomon Kalou (right) at the Chiefs Village in Naturena. Photo - Kaizer Chiefs — Salomon Kalou (right) at the Chiefs Village in Naturena. Photo – Kaizer Chiefs

“The South African league is impressive, you see how the national team is filled with players who play at home, they play in this league, from Sundowns, Pirates, Chiefs – that’s the players who represent the national team,” Kalou said at the Johannesburg ExPo centre.

“That shows how strong the league is and how well those teams are developing talent and you can tell with the results of the national team – that South Africa is coming back to the level it used to be – since the Golden Generation in ’96, we have been waiting for South Africa to get back to where they belong.

“And they are coming back now, the league is showing that, I’m impressed by the stadiums, it’s nice, the players are very professional, that should be an idea for us back home, in Ivory Coast for example.”

Ivory Coast legend ‘envious’ of SA

Salomon Kalou with Kaizer Motaung Sr and Doctor Khumalo. Photo Kaizer Chiefs — Salomon Kalou (left) with Kaizer Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung (centre) and club legend Doctor Khumalo. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

Kalou admits he is jealous of the South African league given the strides it has made as his own country Ivory Coast is still way behind.

“Like it would be great for players to come home and finish where they started after Europe, you have that opportunity here, we don’t have that – so we’re a little bit envious of players here, because you can come home and finish your career or even start it here,” he added.

“Having that opportunity [at this standard] is not always available in all countries in West Africa, we don’t have these opportunities.”

Kalou, who played for Feyenoord, Lille, Chelsea and Hertha Berlin, featured in a number of derbies throughout his career but rates the Soweto Derby highly.