PSL mulls delaying season’s start because of Rio

The start of next season’s Premier Soccer League campaign could be delayed by a full month to make allowance for the Olympics in Brazil‚ but it is just one of several options to deal with the absence of players who will be involved in the Games‚ said the league’s football manager Derek Blanckensee.

South Africa’s men team qualified for the Rio Games by finishing third at the African Under-23 Championship in Senegal just over a month ago and will participate at the men’s football tournament at the Olympics from August 3-21.

Given that the Premier Soccer League postponed both top-flight and National First Division games during the African qualifiers to allow South Africa to field a full-strength squad‚ it seems logical that they will do the same for the Games themselves.

But Blanckensee said several scenarios were being considered and been referred to the organisation’s executive committee to consider.

“It would be premature of me to add any more details at this time‚” he added.

PSL rules determine that their fixture and dates are set by the league’s administration which means any possible delay to the season will be determined internally.

Club officials have confirmed that the issue had yet to be raised but they expect it to come up at the next Board of Governors (BoG) meeting‚ where all the clubs are represented. No date for the next BoG gathering has been scheduled.

Traditionally the new season always gets underway on the first weekend of August. Some years it has been with MTN8 matches and other seasons with a full list of league fixtures.

A delay of one month might be welcomed by the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs if they manage to progress through to the group phase of the African Champions League‚ which will start in June.

For other clubs it would man a holiday hiatus of possible 10 weeks which could come both as a benefit to be able to rest players or a hindrance as they seek to keep them away from mischief.