PSL looks to “bio-bubble”, August 31 finish

Dr Irvin Khoza, Chairman of South Africa’s Premier Soccer League on Monday (July 13) confirmed the return of the professional football league at a PSL press conference. With the approval of the South African Football Association (SAFA) the shortened, six-week season has a completion date of August 31.

Khoza did not announce a start date despite speculation of a possible July 18 restart but the remaining matches will all be played in South Africa’s Gauteng province to enable organisers to manage health concerns.

“We have put saving lives first, in fact our whole approach is governed by this all-important health factor,” Khoza said.

“The NSL alerted sponsors and broadcasters that the season would be completed at the end of August. It was in working back from this date in the requirement of at least six weeks to complete the fixture.”

“The 32 clubs of the NSL further represented in the board of governors have met to address the challenges of Covid-19 under circumstance where the very existence of their businesses are threatened.”

“Being in the entertainment business, and the fact that when we work it is called ‘playing’, has for some reason taken away on the business and employment aspect of our game.”

“The NSL is essential in the South African economy, as an employer and business that sustains livelihoods… we do not play for fun. The so-called ‘playing’ is a business.”

“The confusion around the dates, I must indicate that I had a few meetings with the president of SAFA in dealing with these issues long before this controversy came about.”

“The six weeks required to end the season is not a thumbsuck, setting of dates for the fixtures is done in line with the NSL Handbook that is recognised by the SAFA Statutes.”

“There is a meeting taking place between the SAFA and PSL compliance officers to finalise, among other things, the availability of the match officials.”

“We have not announced the date in public. If there’s a date in public, it’s not our date because as the PSL we’ve never officially announced the dates. We cannot announce them, we have prepared them and supplied them to SAFA. They have taken them to the meeting with compliance officers and will then give an update,” Khoza said.

“The PSL will use a bio-bubble structure to isolate the league players and avoid infections. All 32 clubs will be placed in the bubble in Gauteng.”