The Letter Sent To PSL Clubs On Return Of Football
by Mazola MolefeThe Premier Soccer League has reached out to all member clubs in both the top flight and second division to update them on the return of football.
In a letter seen by the Siya crew to all the teams in the Absa Premiership and those in the GladAfrica Championship, PSL acting CEO Mato Madlala has asked for patience as the executive committee tries to make sense of government’s new regulations.
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Having met on Thursday without any official announcement on the way forward, Madlala wrote that the league is now awaiting further details from the country’s authorities regarding sport in general, with Minister Nathi Mthethwa expected to elaborate during a press conference scheduled for Saturday 2pm.
It was on Sunday that president Cyril Ramaphosa lifted restrictions on the Coronavirus pandemic regulations from alert level 4 to 3, opening up the economy but delivering a major blow to football by reiterating that no sporting events were allowed.
Non-contact “professional” sport, however, is permitted without spectators.
The PSL has been suspended indefinitely since mid-March due to the deadly virus, but had earmarked to complete the 2019/20 season by June 30 – but that now looks unlikely given the restrictions and the fact that teams will need a few weeks to regain match fitness after being in lockdown for two months.
“You will all be aware of the fact that new regulations have been issued yesterday (Thursday) under the Disaster Management Act,” wrote Madlala.
“Certain member clubs have raised issues of interpretation regarding the new regulations. The Executive Committee met yesterday, and, having regard to the representations due to be made to government by football generally, a further urgent meeting has been set for next Tuesday, by that time the Executive Committee will be in a position to convey to every member club precisely what has been resolved by South African football generally as well as the attitude of government to that position.”
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Clubs have been urged to wait for Mthethwa’s announcement and another meeting where the Exco will deliberate, has been scheduled for Tuesday.
“It is crucial that we all act responsibly at this time, that we support the efforts of government, and that none of us seek to place our own interpretation on what is or is not permitted under the new regulations until we have clarity,” added Madlala.
“You will be provided with a full and detailed report after the Executive Committee (meets) next Tuesday (June 2) and pending that please ensure that no participant in professional football acts any differently to that which has applied under the regulations, gives any comment, or acts in a fashion that could prejudice our sport.”
Story by @superjourno