General view of the Lucas Moripe Stadium. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
The Premier Soccer League has adopted the five substitution rule which will be in place for the remainder of the season.
General view of the Lucas Moripe Stadium. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has announced that the five substitution rule will be used upon the resumption of the 2019/20 Absa Premiership and National First Division Championship campaigns.
Football returns to South Africa this weekend with the Nedbank Cup semi-finals taking place as a behind-closed-doors doubleheader at the Orlando Stadium.
The match first semi-final between Bloemfontein Celtic and Baroka FC will see the introduction of the new five substitution rule which has been used extensively by European leagues that restarted from June onwards.
FIFA proposed the five substitution rule as an aid to completing the respective football leagues around the world and a measure to ensure player workloads are manageable.
“The League can also confirm that there will be five substitutes allowed in a match for the remainder of the 2019/20 season,” read a statement from the PSL on Tuesday.
Mamelodi Sundowns are in the hunt for the PSL title and a domestic treble, but to be successful, they will need to come through the most hectic schedule of all.
Downs coach Pitso Mosimane has bemoaned the timing of the restart saying that many of his players have picked up injuries since returning to training.
With perhaps the best squad in the league, the five substitution rule should play into Kabo Yellow’s hands, but Mosimane will have an incredible juggling act to pull off to keep everyone fit.
Achieving a treble will require Sundowns making a fast start with the club set to play four matches in nine days. They face Bidvest Wits in the cup on 8 August and then restart their PSL campaign against Orlando Pirates next Tuesday.