PSL restart date to be announced
DECISION: KHOZA MEDIA CONFERENCE ON MONDAY TO PROVIDE MORE CLARITY
All remaining matches are likely to be played in a virus-free Gauteng bio-bubble.
The Premier Soccer League are set to announce the details on Monday of the resumption of the 2019/20 season, with a start date understood to be pencilled in for 22 or 23 July, pending the approval of government and the South African Football Association (Safa).
The PSL broke several months of silence yesterday when they announced a press conference for 12-noon on Monday, to be held by PSL chairman Irvin Khoza, who has driven the league’s bid to get underway again as soon as possible, in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
At a PSL Board of Governor’s (BOG) meeting on Wednesday, the full details were outlined to all 32 PSL clubs of the return to play, with all matches set to be played out in the Gauteng province.
“Gauteng gave the most impressive presentation,” a source told the Saturday Citizen.
A joint Safa and PSL task force had already prepared a lengthy report, presented to government, on how they could manage a return to football, with the need stressed for a safe environment, and the creation of a Covid-19-free “bubble” for the Nedbank Cup, Absa Premiership and Glad Africa Championship to be played out in.
Gauteng, despite its rapid surge in infections, is believed to be the best venue for this “bubble”, and certainly has enough venues to finish off the season.
Most teams have already returned to training, with the Saturday Citizen told yesterday that only two teams from across the PSL had so far failed to comply with their health and safety regulations. These are supposedly only minor issues with the two clubs as well, and even though there is a very short turnaround time between training and going back to play, most clubs seem determined to finish, come what may.
Economic factors, it seems, out-weigh any issues over the risk of injury, or indeed an outbreak of Covid-19, while the league have already told Fifa that they intend to get the season done by the end of August.
It will all kick off with the Nedbank Cup semifinals, with Bidvest Wits taking on Mamelodi Sundowns, and Baroka FC going up against Bloemfontein Celtic.
The Saturday Citizen was told yesterday that while teams are expected to enter the Gauteng “bubble” on 18 July, testing of all the players means the action would only kick off a few days later.
Safa’s approval remains a main sticking poinT. with the national federation towing a cautious line over the resumption.
Safa also control the PSL referees, adding extra importance to their nod of approval.
An alternative proposal was also tabled by the PSL BOG to cancel the GladAfrica Championship, leaving less fixtures to resolve.