PSL: Date For Return To Football?

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 02:40 pm

The Premier Soccer League is edging closer to a return, the Siya crew being informed that a tentative date for matches to resume has been proposed.

It’s almost four months since the 2019/20 season was suspended due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic and both the PSL and SAFA, the football motherbody in the country, have been going back and forth over when the campaign should be concluded.

The Siya crew understands that July 15 has been put forward by the league as a potential date when all clubs – those in the Absa Premiership and GladAfrica Championship combined – can make their way into a biologically safe environment to conclude the remaining fixtures.

PSL chairman Irvin Khoza has been quoted recently in local media confirming that the two leagues would resume in one province.

Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and North West are being considered as potential hosts and it is understood matches could begin as early as July 19.

The league, however, has been silent since announcing the suspension of football back in mid-March after President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of emergency and enforced a lockdown to try stop the spread of Covid-19.

SAFA had been adamant that football should only return when it is safe to do so – under level 1 of the lockdown regulations.

But last month, Nathi Mthethwa, the Sports Minister, gazetted the direction for all sport to return, and on June 24 approved the PSL’s plans to go back to playing the outstanding games under strict health guidelines.

This despite some quarters still concerned with the rising infections in the country as its peak season for the virus.

Subsequent to that confirmation, the league then asked clubs to each appoint a compliance officer and submit their own regulations for a staggered return to training for approval by Michael Murphy, who is the PSL’s Covi-19 compliance officer working closely with its chief medical officer, Dr Lervasen Pillay.

Once their documents have been assessed and approved by Murphy, clubs can then return to training as they prepare for kick-off – and some already have.

And the Siya crew understands that July 19 could very well be the day we all see the title race and the relegation dogfight resume!

(Soccerladuma)