It’s a blessing to be trusted by my business competitors - PSL Chair Irvin Khoza

Khoza, who has been nominated unopposed and will start his new term on Wednesday, 21 years after he was first elected to lead the PSL in 2003, told Ukhozi FM’s Prime Time Sports show with Victor Molefe that this is not a responsibility he takes lightly.

The PSL will hold its Quadrennial General Meeting under the umbrella body National Soccer League (NSL) on Wednesday at the Sandton Convention Centre, where the main business of the day will be to elect the new Executive Committee.

Earlier this year, there were reports that Khoza (76) might not return for another term as he was considering retirement.

But the events that followed later, including negotiating a blockbuster new sponsorship deal with Betway to replace DSTV as sponsors of the flagship PSL’s Premiership division, proved that the Orlando Pirates chairman is still very much needed in arguably the continent’s number one national football league commercially.

DStv had just taken the decision not to continue with their league sponsorship just before the season started, but Khoza’s strong business and negotiation skills ensured a new deal with a betting company estimated at R900 million over five years was secured just two weeks before the season started.

“It’s a huge blessing that my clubs trust me like this because this is something rarely seen, especially for people you are competing with, to trust you with their businesses like this.

“I take this as a very big responsibility for the respect they are affording me. I don’t take this lightly; I left my club (Pirates) all these years, put in a lot of work for the PSL, and helped to make it the global brand it is today,” Khoza told Ukhozi FM.

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Khoza and Kaizer Chiefs Chairman Kaizer Motaung (80), who also serves as the PSL’s Finance Committee chairperson, are the only remaining founder members of the league’s EXCO from 1996. He has recalled the gains they have made in the last 28 years.

“I would also like to thank my big friend, Mr. Kaizer Motaung, who has been with me side by side all these years, working together on improving this league. We’ve always maintained that it’s not about ourselves but about the league as the product.

“This is why the sponsors are attracted to the PSL because they see that they have got a genuine product where they can invest their monies, and also they can see that everything is above board.

“When I took over, the income was just around R42 million, but now it’s almost over R1 billion annually; this shows you how far we have come with the brand,” Khoza continued.

All eyes will also be on the contestation for the seven remaining spots in the PSL EXCO, with members of the current board like Motaung, John Commits (Cape Town City), Mato Madlala (Golden Arrows), Stanley Matthews (SuperSport United), Dr Rejoice Simelane (Mamelodi Sundowns) and Rob Benadie (Stellenbosch FC) also up for a return.

But at least two new members are expected to join the Exco, there are five new names on the nomination list, including AmaZulu’s Sandile Zungu, Tim Sukazi (TS Galaxy), Johnny Mogaladi (Polokwane City), Abram Sello (Marumo Gallants) and Sifiso Biyela (Richards Bay FC).

Black Leopards Chairman David Thidiela, who serves in the outgoing EXCO, has not been nominated for this new term.

“I respect people who raise their hands to serve in the PSL because it means you’ve got the guts to do this, and also limit your time with your family because serving in the PSL requires you to commit yourself 24 hours a day.

“Now, it will depend on their campaign, but I respect them for taking this bold decision.  The likes of Sandile Zungu, Tim Sukazi, Johnny Mogaladi, Abram Sello, and Sifiso Biyela, they are all new. Now, it’s up to the members and how they have received their campaigns,” concluded Khoza, who is also one of the four SAFA Vice-Presidents.

Premier Division clubs are entitled to 10 votes each, while the NFD clubs are entitled to two votes each during the general and quadrennial meetings (when the PSL Exco election takes place).