'It Will Not Happen By Magic Or Slogans' – CAF Official Lux September Makes Reminder On Dangers Of Foreign Obsession

CAF TV and Broadcasting Head (Commercial), Luxolo September, has issued a clarion call to African football stakeholders, urging the fans, administrators, and sponsors to take interest in home-based league development instead of being so fixated on the Europeans.

Speaking in Nairobi during an interview centered on the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN), September praised the East African region for hosting the tournament and underscored the importance of the tournament in local football development.

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The South African government official stressed that while European clubs such as the English Premier League and La Liga remain hugely popular on the continent, their ability to bring in revenue adds virtually nothing to the African football ecosystem.

"For me, the legacy of this CHAN is that it will be a catalyst for something new," September said in an interview with NTV.

"What's being done here—the fruits of it will be experienced by Kenya in the long term. What this tournament has demonstrated is what you can do, and the beneficiaries will not only be CAF—it'll be the media, the leagues, and the supporters."

The Pamoja CHAN, hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, has attracted global viewers across over 80 countries.

In September, he highlighted that the tournament has restored confidence in the capability of East Africa to organize significant events, and that it ought to be a launchpad for more opportunities, like the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

"Eastafrica is a sleeping giant. With 400 million passionate individuals, it makes sense," he stated.

"Kenya finally has a benchmark to prove that it can host big events. The Government of Kenya, President R, and FKF leadership owe us credit for their determination to make this CHAN work."

The official had acknowledged problems of security, tickets, and the logistical problems of a three-country tournament but emphasized that these problems are a fact of life when hosting competitions after an extended break.

For him, the answer lies in having government, federations, and CAF collaborate in delivering safe, accessible, and memorable experiences for supporters.

September was determined that the momentum of CHAN must not be lost after the competition was over.

"You must build on the heritage—it can't perish on the 30th of August," he urged.

"Kenyan Premier League must improve. Police, Gor Mahia, Mathare, Tusker clubs must be names in every household again. It will not happen overnight—you require institutions, professional administration, and continuity."

Questioned how to trickle down such professionalism to local leagues in the remainder of East Africa, September issued his hardest warning yet against an unhealthy fixation with European competitions.

"End the fetishizing of European leagues. We don't profit from them. Construct your own. Keep your best players home. Commercialize your leagues, media-friendly, and professional," he claimed.

September also looked at CAF's broader devotion to development and commerciality. He referred to the growth of prize money in women's football and increased financial support for clubs playing in continental competitions.

"The culture is excellence. With President Motsepe, there are no compromises—only standards," he added.

"Yes, mistakes are made, but the heart is in the right place. That leadership is what African football needs."