Soccer

PSL focuses on completing the season; not seeking sponsor

Sports Reporter

Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairperson Dr Irvin Khoza says the league will only seek a replacement for Absa after they are sure of what happens to the current season, which has remained suspended for over two months due to Covid-19.

  Absa recently decided against renewing sponsoring the PSL since a three-year deal in 2017; a decision to be in effect when the 2019/20 season ends.

  Khoza said the contract was for three years, which means Absa is not withdrawing support.

  “It was to do with expiry of the contract, which is a question of deciding whether they continue the sponsorship or not. But the decision to end the relationship was not an acrimonious one; it was a situation that we understand because, with Covid-19, anything is possible,” he said.

  He added that it is impossible to begin a process to find a replacement sponsor at this stage, while soccer is suspended.

  “It’s important that we finish the league first; then we know what we are selling, since a sponsor would ask when we are starting,” Khoza said.

  Companies that include Bidvest, Telkom, Betway and Nedbank have been reported to be interested in taking over PSL sponsorship for the next season.

  The PSL and the South African Football Association (Safa) are working to ensure the season resumes. Safa CEO Tebogo Motlanthe recently said with soccer clubs having fumigated their training facilities; that may speed up the process of allowing them to resume training. 

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