PSL in crunch talks with government over league resumption

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) and Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa are currently discussing the resumption of the league season, IOL reports.

The last top-level fixtures across competitions took place on Sunday, 15 March – around just 48 hours before the PSL announced that action was suspended indefinitely.

PSL in crunch talks with Mthethwa

With sports federations around the world making big calls regarding the status of their respective leagues, there is yet to be a decision made on whether the PSL will be able to resume before the start of the new season is due.

League chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza says after Fifa issued out a directive that leagues should make a decision in terms of resuming action after consulting relevant authorities.

“The PSL is in discussion at the moment with the Minister and other relevant authorities to ensure that Fifa’s condition is met and we can work on the plans for the resumption of the league,” Khoza told IOL.

Dr Irvin Khoza

South Africa implemented Level 4 of lockdown regulations on Friday and the current restrictions still prohibit mass gatherings and all sports activities.

Khoza added;

“There are two factors that are now urgent. We engaged the minister yesterday (Thursday) and the executive committee is looking at the 7th (of May to meet Minister again), so we must respond to him about issues that we need to deal with in terms of the discussion. “There are things that we need to provide on our meeting on the 7th. The executive committee will revert to the minister on the ongoing discussions.”

Dr Irvin Khoza

Lots of football still left to be played

Earlier in the week, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) instructed governing bodies across the continent to indicate whether leagues will resume in the coming weeks. The deadline set by the federation for this is Monday, 5 May.

On Thursday, the South African Football Association indicated via a statement that no football would be possible until the country’s lockdown restrictions reach Level 1.

The PSL was suspended with Kaizer Chiefs topping the standings, sitting just four points ahead of defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, with the two teams left with eight and nine fixtures respectively.

The other competition still active when the call was made was the Nedbank Cup, with Bloemfontein Celtic, Baroka, Sundowns and Highlands Park through to the semifinals.

In announcing the league’s suspension in March, Khoza stated that they would strive to complete the season before 30 June.