Psl six weeks

A Football suppoter Malcolm Van Heerden watches Dr. Irvin Khoza (PSL Chairman) during a Tele-Press Conference on July 13, 2020 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)

PSL sets ambitious six-week timeline to complete season

With 54 matches required to complete the suspended PSL campaign, and a further three to round off South Africa’s top cup competition, The PSL chairman has boldly proclaimed the season will be completed within six weeks.

Psl six weeks

A Football suppoter Malcolm Van Heerden watches Dr. Irvin Khoza (PSL Chairman) during a Tele-Press Conference on July 13, 2020 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)

Premier Soccer League Chairman (PSL) Irvin Khoza has set an ambitious timeframe for the completion of the season.

PSL sets ambitious six-week timeline

With 54 matches required to complete the suspended PSL campaign, and a further three to round off South Africa’s top cup competition, Khoza has boldly proclaimed the season will be completed within six weeks.

Khoza would not set a restart date while addressing the media on Monday 13 July.

The South African Football Association (Safa), who have been tasked with overseeing the return to play by government, dismissed the suggestion that play might resume as soon 18 July.

Interim CEO Tebogo Motlanthe said over the weekend that matches were unlikely to be staged before 1 August. Motlanthe was responding to correspondence from the league that allegedly set a return to play date of the weekend of 18 July.

Why the six-week timeframe is ambitious

The PSL setting themselves the target of having the season concluded before the end of August should raise eyebrows for a number of reasons.

Any return-to-play plans must be approved by government before they are permitted to be executed by the PSL. The department of sports, arts and culture have mandated Safa to approve those plans before they are forwarded to government for final approval.

Safa have yet to comment on the timeline but are presumably aware of the PSL’s intent having held a string of meetings with the top-flight’s executives.

The governing body doesn’t believe that football will be able to safely restart in July, meaning that the PSL will need to complete its remaining matches in four weeks rather than six.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has already suggested that clubs would need at least five weeks of training before returning to play, but it appears that most will be afforded two weeks or less.

Sundowns will have the busiest schedule, with the club’s participation in continental football leaving them with nine league matches to complete. On top of that Mosimane’s side have also progressed to the last four of the Nedbank Cup and could play 11 times before the season finally ends.

Safa have shown they are not afraid to contradict the league in public and the body have been made aware that they could be held liable for any damages claims made as a result of the restart.

Without a fixture list that has been approved by government it is impossible to say if Khoza’s declaration will hold up in the coming weeks.

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