GP and KZN for PSL finish

Return to training decision on Tuesday Talks with unions on player contracts Season to end in August

● The provinces of Gauteng and KwaZuluNatal are frontrunners to serve as a base for where the Premier Soccer League (PSL) will complete its 2019-20 season.

PSL chairperson Irvin Khoza told the Sunday Times that the league will decide on the choice of venue during a board of governors meeting on Tuesday.

They will also rule on when clubs can return to training at the same meeting.

He said the league’s application to the government for the biological safe environment base had Gauteng and North West as potential provinces.

But now KZN has come into the frame in the race to be a stage for the remaining 54 Absa Premiership games, three Nedbank Cup and 44 GladAfrica Championship matches of a season which was halted in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Beautiful pitch from KZN

Khoza said their application to the minister of sport, Nathi Mthethwa, was for the base to be between Gauteng and North West.

“But we’ve since received a pitch from KZN, which was a beautiful pitch. It’s unbelievable. Our application says we need two provinces, but if one province can accommodate all the teams, so be it.

“The report of the task team will indicate how many fixtures and how many weeks we require because we must finish everything by August 31,” said Khoza yesterday.

“We’ve been very procedural in our approach all along. The date of the resumption of training and matches will also be dealt with in that meeting.

“We have to allow teams to train first. If we don’t do that there will be too many injuries.”

The extension of the season to August 31 necessitates talks about player contracts, some of which expire at the end of June.

“It should be a give and take between all the parties concerned.

“We encourage all the stakeholders to make sure that we should finish the season with the same players.

“We’re also engaging with unions to make them aware of the extension of the season.

“It must be done according to the laws of the country; it must be a negotiation between the players and their clubs.

“We encourage everyone that we finish the season with the full complement of the players to protect the integrity of the sport. This will be a discussion between the clubs, players, players’ union and in some cases the players’ agents.”

On the subject of returning to training, Khoza said some teams will train at their normal training grounds and others will have to go to camp.

“All those things have to be given to the government so that there’s an inspection by the health authorities and they must know where to go.

Compliance officers

“That also covers us in terms of knowing what to comply ... with the health protocols that were submitted.

“We also have to make sure that all the clubs have appointed the compliance officers.”

He said their application was exceptional and went beyond the expectations.

“Everything takes time under these circumstances, we can’t rush it. There are a lot of things involved here and we’ll try our best to do it the right way.”

A Gauteng provincial government official said provincial government has agreed in principle.

“They approached us in May before we moved to level 3. They got a definite yes for an answer.

“They are looking at Gauteng because of the facilities and infrastructure available between Johannesburg and Pretoria,” said the official.

Gauteng has stadiums such as FNB, Orlando, Loftus Versfeld, Lucas Masterpieces Moripe, Dobsonville, Makhulong and Ellis Park.

“They will have to do their own work to say which ones can work and which ones need more work to be done to be ready.

“It is accepted that we will give them all the support they need. They’ll come back to us with regards to the details.”

Reopening PSL programme

Thabo Masebe, head of communications in the office of the Gauteng premier, said: “The PSL did approach the Gauteng provincial government about the reopening of their PSL programme and of course it is the PSL that will make an announcement with regards to how they will reopen their programme.”

KwaZulu-Natal has venues like Moses Mabhida, King Zwelithini, Princess Magogo, Sugar Ray Xulu, Harry Gwala and Chatsworth stadiums.

A high-placed source within the KZN government said it was not in a bidding process. He said he was aware that the race was between KZN and Gauteng.

“Yes, the PSL has approached us and we’re confident of our capacity to do the job. It’s between us and Gauteng.

“We don’t want to appear to be arrogant and bulldozing everyone in this. We’ll wait for the PSL to announce their plans.

“But we’re ready not just to accommodate 16 but all 32 PSL and NFD [National First Division] teams because we’re not talking about Durban only, but the province.”

Vusi Mazibuko, manager at Moses Mabhida Stadium, said: “We are ever ready but you’ll have to check with the provincial government on whether KZN or Durban in particular is going to host these games.”

Might be two provinces

A PSL executive committee member said in the end the league may go for the route of spliting it into two provinces, each hosting 16 teams, one in the PSL and the other in the NFD.

“We’re looking at the best options for us but there’s been a lot of interest (from the provinces).

“Remember, we have two leagues, maybe the same province or two different provinces will host the games.

“KZN is not the only option because others have also approached us,” said the PSL official.

We’ve been very procedural in our approach all along Irvin Khoza

Premier Soccer League chairperson