The DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga GmbH (German Football League) and the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) will work together in the future after a new partnership agreement was reached. The news was made public at a press conference in Johannesburg on Monday 26th April.
The main point of the agreement is a mutual exchange of ideas and continues the comprehensive foreign strategy of the DFL, who are already working under similar arrangements with Major League Soccer of the USA and the All Indian Football Federation in India.
"We re convinced that we've found the perfect partner in Africa with the Premier Soccer League,” said Tom Bender Member of the Board of DFL. "Football has become a worldwide business – both in terms of fans and in terms of business and technology. The only logical consequence of that is for the DFL to market itself internationally and create strategic partnerships with other leagues. In terms of sustainability and credibility, it s vital to the DFL to not only distribute TV rights in certain areas of the world, but also to work on lighthouse projects in those regions too.”
The exchange between the two leagues will mostly focus on operations and management, including organisation of matches, licensing, marketing and communications. The Bundesliga Foundation is also present in South Africa as part of an anti-AIDS project. Financial support of the PSL is not envisaged.
The PSL is hoping that the agreement will help them be as profitable as possible from the upcoming World Cup in the country. "Germany and the Bundesliga staged a great World Cup and set the foundations for the successful further development of their league. We can learn from that. The partnership is a great opportunity for the PSL and it is sure to help us in the years to follow,” said Kjetil Siem, chairman of the Premier Soccer League.
As part of the agreement, biennial meetings between the managements of both organisations are planned. The DFL is already expecting a delegation from the PSL to be present for its Annual General Meeting in August this year.
The whole study is available at http://www.bundesliga.de/en/liga/news/2009/index.php?f=0000151158.php
