‘Africa is the place to be ...’
So says PSL boss Khoza who believes the PSL must be represente on the continent
IRVIN Khoza, pictured, reminded club bosses this week that the PSL can only grow its brand further if continental football becomes a priority.
Speaking at Tuesday’s annual meeting, the PSL chairman bemoaned a bipolar attitude towards tournaments staged by the Confederations of African Football (CAF), which has seen local teams struggle to compete at that level for several years. Orlando Pirates – a club where Khoza is also the chairman – remains the only South African team in a major continental competition this year, with Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs having been knocked out in the first round of the Champions League in March.
The Buccaneers will face Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel over two legs in the final of the Confederations Cup. They host Etoile at Orlando Stadium next Saturday and travel to Sousse for the return match eight days later. Khoza made his way to the second leg of the Champions League final in Lubumbashi, DRC, last week to watch TP Mazembe beat USM Alger 4-1 on aggregate to be crowned African champions for a fifth time.
He was inspired, he said, and was left with no choice but to give his fellow club bosses a speech about taking continental tournaments seriously.
“I told our members that it would be nice to one day have two PSL clubs competing in the final of the Champions League. You cannot be a strong league without being strong in the continental competitions,” Khoza said.
“You won’t understand how big we are in the continent, but the quality of our league can only be enhanced if you qualify to compete with the standards in the continental tournaments. This was one of my key points in my address to our members. I know it’s not easy, but we can do it because the quality of our football is unbelievable. We’ve got what it takes.”
Khoza has been successful in urging his Pirates players to double their efforts in the Confederations Cup – their domestic display being criticised as a result. The Buccaneers have only managed three wins from nine Premiership games this season and lie in 10th place. They also reached the final of the Champions League two years ago, where they lost out on the title to Al Ahly.
“There is so much growth and potential for our league out there,” the chairman said. “People identify with it and even so because of Super Sport showing our games all over Africa and SABC doing the same on radio. I was identified by people I do not know in the DRC and it was unbelievable how many selfies I took. All because of the power of football. That is why I am saying it is in the best interest of our league to try and get two teams to one day play in the final.”
Sundowns and Chiefs get to try again in February when the 2016 edition of the Champions League kicks-off, while Bidvest Wits and Ajax Cape Town will compete in the Confederations Cup.