Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Paying a R1 million financial guarantee to the Premier Soccer League for new Premiership members will be among the issues to be discussed today .

This will be attended to at the special National Soccer League (NSL) general meeting to be held at a leading hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg.

In addition, new individuals or companies buying a First Division club will be required to pay a R500000 guarantee to the league.

This, Sowetan has learnt, is being done to protect players and others employed by clubs in case of labour disputes.

In the past, the PSL executive committee could choose any club to pay a guarantee and decide on the amount because the constitution is silent on the matter.

Also expected to be discussed at the meeting will be the much-anticipated decision on a kickoff date for the First Division. With this weekend being a Fifa-sanctioned international weekend, the league is most likely going to start only on September 15.

One of the issues that resulted in the delay of the kickoff was the court case brought against the league by PJ Stars and plans to take the First Division to Safa, which the clubs opposed.

Stars had gone to the high court after they were docked 15 points for fielding defaulters, which effectively relegated them to the Vodacom League.

The PSL opposed their urgent interdict after Stars indicated that they did not want the First Division to start before their matter was dealt with by the courts.

Still on the First Division, the NSL members will also discuss the promotion and relegation format. First Division clubs are against the current format, some arguing that two teams must drop down from the Premiership and two must go up from the First Division.

Currently, the last Premiership club is relegated, but the one in 15th spot participates in the playoffs with the First Division clubs finishing second to fifth on the log. First Division winners gain promotion automatically to the Premiership.

It is highly unlikely First Division clubs will succeed in their plans to change the format.

One thorny issue expected to be discussed is that involving the new television rights deal, where officials who were involved in the negotiations are set to get 10 percent bonuses, equivalent to R30 million each.

While it is a norm in sport for people securing sponsorship to get 10 percent of the value of the deal, some of the administrators are seemingly unhappy with the figures.

l The SAA Supa 8 final between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will be played at the King's Park stadium in Durban on September 15. Tickets will be available from Computicket from Friday, September 7 at R25 for adults and R10 for children.