SAFA Indaba, Congress going ahead with or without PSL

Motlanthe was speaking to the media this afternoon, shortly after the organisation’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Kempton Park, which was a pre-cursor to these two main events this weekend. 

The PSL dropped a bombshell yesterday when it announced via a statement that it would boycott the SAFA Indaba/Workshop planned for today and tomorrow as well as the Ordinary Congress on Sunday.

Motlanthe says the PSL’s absence in these meetings is not a blow.

"It's not a blow. Members are here, Fifa is here, Caf is here, and we will continue as planned. If there are decisions that need to be taken, they will be taken. Of course, it's a worrisome factor that there was that statement issued but one will not say it's a shock or it affects the programme of the weekend," he said.

In their statement, the PSL noted they would be seeking urgent meetings with the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, which would be followed by a meeting of the League’s Board of Governors (BOG).

It was stated that the decision was taken upon review of the agenda for this weekend, and Motlanthe adds that they will be seeking to gather the reasons that have led to the League’s decision.

"When you get a letter saying to you this is my reason being from a legal practitioner you need to get the reasons first before you respond. So, what we have then resolved was that because that statement was sent to me as it was released, is to seek more information to say what are the issues. After hearing their side, we'll then suggest meeting to resolve issues, if there are issues that need to be resolved," he added.

The PSL statement also followed a lot of comments that were made by SAFA this week during its media roundtable engagement with local journalists.

Among those were the Technical Director Walter Steenbok’s utterances that club licensing regulations relating to coaching qualifications would be legislated this weekend.

Motlanthe also added that SAFA, as the custodians of football in the country, would spearhead the implementation of Club Licensing to ensure its full and effective implementation.

But the CEO refuses to speculate over what the PSL’s issue could be.

"I don't want to assume. It will be difficult for me to make that assumption. The letter has not spoken about any comments or anyone saying this. It was very clear, 'after having gone through the agenda'. I think the issues are around the agenda. We will write to the league and we will get a response saying these are the issues. I do believe that there is a way of finding each other," he concluded.