THE Premier Soccer League yesterday gave in to pressure and cancelled seven more Absa Premiership matches to afford players and club officials the chance to attend the funeral of Senzo Meyiwa.
Following the news that the Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana captain had been killed on Sunday, the league had confirmed that only the Soweto derby between the Buccaneers and rivals Kaizer Chiefs would be cancelled.
However, the league was flooded with requests - through the media and social networks - from Meyiwa's former teammates and coaches at Pirates as well as the national team to look for alternative dates for this weekend's fixtures.
Yesterday, league CEO Brand de Villiers said the postponement was the sensible thing to do.
"But it was not because of any pressure," he explained. "The executive committee met and after discussions between the league, title sponsors Absa, the broadcast partners and other relevant stakeholders regarding the extraordinary circumstances, we decided it was best to cancel the matches.
"We never received any formal requests or letters from anyone asking us to call off the games."
De Villiers said only the derby would probably be rescheduled for a weekend, while the other fixtures would have to be played in midweek: "We don't have any open weekends, just maybe two midweek slots for these other games."
While the PSL's decision to postpone the games was delayed, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, whose side were scheduled to host Free State Stars at the Lucas Moripe Stadium tomorrow night, welcomed it.
"My opinion is that we are all still reeling and mourning. To be honest, all week long my system was down. I was not looking forward to our game and my players, especially Cheeseboy [Lebohang Mokoena, a close friend of Meyiwa's] was not coping. It is important that we pay our last respects to Senzo, a national team player," said Mosimane.
Wits coach Gavin Hunt also backed his Downs counterpart after he, too, was spared a trip to the Free State to take on Bloemfontein Celtic.
"I think it is a good thing and the right thing to do," said Hunt.
PSL gives in on games to mourn Meyiwa
THE Premier Soccer League yesterday gave in to pressure and cancelled seven more Absa Premiership matches to afford players and club officials the chance to attend the funeral of Senzo Meyiwa.
Following the news that the Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana captain had been killed on Sunday, the league had confirmed that only the Soweto derby between the Buccaneers and rivals Kaizer Chiefs would be cancelled.
However, the league was flooded with requests - through the media and social networks - from Meyiwa's former teammates and coaches at Pirates as well as the national team to look for alternative dates for this weekend's fixtures.
Yesterday, league CEO Brand de Villiers said the postponement was the sensible thing to do.
"But it was not because of any pressure," he explained. "The executive committee met and after discussions between the league, title sponsors Absa, the broadcast partners and other relevant stakeholders regarding the extraordinary circumstances, we decided it was best to cancel the matches.
"We never received any formal requests or letters from anyone asking us to call off the games."
De Villiers said only the derby would probably be rescheduled for a weekend, while the other fixtures would have to be played in midweek: "We don't have any open weekends, just maybe two midweek slots for these other games."
While the PSL's decision to postpone the games was delayed, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, whose side were scheduled to host Free State Stars at the Lucas Moripe Stadium tomorrow night, welcomed it.
"My opinion is that we are all still reeling and mourning. To be honest, all week long my system was down. I was not looking forward to our game and my players, especially Cheeseboy [Lebohang Mokoena, a close friend of Meyiwa's] was not coping. It is important that we pay our last respects to Senzo, a national team player," said Mosimane.
Wits coach Gavin Hunt also backed his Downs counterpart after he, too, was spared a trip to the Free State to take on Bloemfontein Celtic.
"I think it is a good thing and the right thing to do," said Hunt.
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