If local soccer doesn’t resume soon, some PSL clubs will be forced to maak hulle deure toe.
Cape Town City boss John Comitis is one of those concerned club owners as the coronavirus pandemic lockdown has hurt their coffers.
Comitis and his League and South African Football Association (Safa) colleagues on the Joint Liaison Committee will today hand over their plan to complete the season as soon and as safely as possible to the PSL executive committee.
From there the plan has to be approved by government and Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa.
And it’s here where Comitis is begging SA’s dikdinge to please help them save the local game.
Comparing it to the mining industry
opening on June 1 when the coronavirus lockdown moves to level three, the Citizens boss’ mood went from serious to dik
serious.
SHOT CALLER: Nathi Mthethwa
He tells the Daily Voice: “If you look at the mining industry, they convinced government that they are essential to the livelihoods of South African workers and the PSL has to do the same.
“We have to make sure they understand it’s a necessity that we return. We can’t wait for level one. This is about survival.
“Clubs’ revenues are weighted heavily on broadcast deals [which funds the PSL’s R2m monthly grant to top-flight clubs and R600k to NFD].
“And that is not nearly enough for clubs, who don’t have other sponsorship deals.
“With no football, there are no gate receipts, sponsors pull out and if the grant goes, it will be disastrous.
“We have to resume... it’s a huge boost to see countries that have been worse-hit than us bring football back.
“It’s an industry that has an emotional effect on people and it can raise morale in this country.”