PSL decides to ditch SAFA congress

The Premier Soccer League [PSL] Executive Committee has announced a decision to ditch the upcoming SAFA Indaba as well as the special congress.

SAFA issued a circular on 12 April to all members [including the PSL] of an Indaba set for the 21st and 22nd of April. The members are the SAFA NEC, Regional members, Associate members and special members. The Indaba is set to be followed by an Ordinary SAFA Congress on Sunday, 23 April.

PSL UNANIMOUSLY DECIDE TO DITCH SAFA CONGRESS

But the league resolved to ditch the gathering during their monthly meeting on Thursday, 20 March. In an official statement released on Thursday evening, the league unanimously decided to withdraw.

“The Executive Committee unanimously resolved that the PSL would not attend the workshop/Indaba or the Ordinary SAFA Congress,” the league said.

The PSL has also announced that they will seek an audience with the Minister of Sports and CAF president on the way forward.

“The Executive Committee delegation will seek an urgent audience with the Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture; the President of CAF; and the stakeholders that support professional football. Then call an extraordinary meeting of the PSL Board of Governors to report on the matter.”

MOTHERBODY TO ENFORCE CLUB LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Amongst the issues on the table during the Indaba include the PSL coaches’ qualifications. SAFA technical Director Walter Steenbok said they need to tighten their grip. This is to ensure that the 32 PSL clubs comply with the CAF Club Licensing requirements.

“The issue of coaches’ qualifications was raised by the first Technical Director that we had in 2012, Serame Letsoaka. Coaches were even given enough time to get the right qualifications,” said Steenbok.

“But when you have clubs in the PSL who are not employing qualified coaches. It talks to our members. I have presented before that we have 459 CAF A coaching license holders in South Africa.

“They [PSL clubs] don’t have to buy into this. It’s legislation we must enforce. This is our territory, so if we are not going to implement things, we are going to get questions about who’s in charge. We are in charge,” he said.

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