Safa president Danny Jordaan insists there has been no disagreement between himself and Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairman Irvin Khoza, as the two organisations work together on a plan to resume football in the country.
Despite a level-4 lockdown in place, which bans all sporting activities and social gatherings, the PSL wants to kick off again but under ‘stringent coronavirus health and safety regulations’ which would include playing behind closed doors.
However, football regulator Safa thinks football should only take place during level 1 of the lockdown when it’s safe to do so.
With the two contrasting views, South African Minister of Sports, Arts and Recreation, Nathi Mthethwa, has indicated that the two organisations would have to have a single voice in any attempt to restart football, something which Jordaan insists is happening.
‘Remember the two of us brought the World Cup to South Africa, the only country on the African continent to host the World Cup. Remember also, we delivered the World Cup that was voted the best World Cup ever,’ Jordaan told SAFM.
‘So, there is history of working together. But there are also times when you disagree and, in this instance, I don’t have to say that we did not disagree because it was in the newspapers and the minister said that I must take a single position to the cabinet. I cannot take two positions.
‘And the [football] mother body must submit that position but we have to engage the PSL and this is what we are doing. Unfortunately, as I have indicated, I was in the Eastern Cape and I had to drive the whole day [on Monday] to come [to Johannesburg] and I met the chairman tonight [Tuesday]. We are going to have a further meeting.’
The PSL executive is also expected to hold a virtual meeting on Thursday, before approaching Safa as well as the sports and health ministries, informing them of their deliberations.
‘I think everybody wants football to start and we cannot start football when there are two voices,’ Jordaan said.
‘It can only be one voice because of the huge implications of a decision to commence what matters. It is not a decision that can be taken lightly and, also, we cannot take the decision without the government.
‘It is the government that decides we move from stage five to stage four and when we are moving top three, two and so on.
‘It is strictly in the hands of the government and we must respond to each of those stages which we have done. Now we must engage the PSL so that we have the same understanding and take our position to the government for the [sports] minister to take it to the cabinet and argue why and when football must be allowed to be played. That process is under way.’
