Fourteen years! That’s how long Irvin Khoza would have been at the helm as PSL chairperson when his fifth term, which started on Thursday, comes to an end.

Khoza was unopposed and was quick to say this might not be his last stint, as he would never turn his back on the league as long as his constituency wants him to continue.

“I did not put myself here and if the members want me to continue I will do so,” said the Iron Duke of SA football.

He said the fact that he stood unopposed showed the confidence members have in him.

He promised not to let them down, saying the next four years will be the toughest because of the many challenges that lie ahead.

Top of his list is to unite the warring factions as he believes there are serious divisions in football.

“We should work together to eliminate factionalism and maintain our relevance in the marketplace as it is evident that we can no longer rely on the sponsors.

“We must re-energise ourselves and come up with some innovative ideas to build on what we have achieved so far.”

Since he took over the chair in 2002, the teams’ grants have increased from R1 million to R20 million a season.

He said he has worked hard to get the league where it is today and deserves the accolades from his  detractors – the media.

He said he was happy with the composition of the new executive committee which saw only one new-comer – Mamelodi Sundowns director Dan Simelane.

Black Leopards boss David Thidiela made a return while Stanley Matthews came back after relinquishing his position when he was appointed the league’s chief executive.

Once again, Golden Arrows boss Mato Madlala is the only woman on the committee. Khoza said he would sit with his committee to map out the way forward, particularly with regard to the appointment of the new CEO.

The league has not had an administrative head since Matthews’ shock resignation in June, with Cambridge Mokonyane as acting head.

It emerged that the PSL wants to patch things up with the mother body – the South African Football Association – with the establishment of an ad hoc committee to avoid unnecessary surprises.

“We have adopted some points of cooperation as we want to eliminate frustrations for the national team coach. We remain open to supporting the national interest and we have given the coach access to all the teams whenever he wants to visit them.”

He said as an effort to assist the national team in their preparations for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, the league’s programme would stop on December 19 and only resume in February.

“We are being considerate as we want our national team to do well.”

The youth league was the biggest loser, as it had hoped to make inroads into the executive.

Two of their nominees, Lunga Sokhela of AmaZulu and Bloemfontein Celtic’s Khumbulani Konco did not garner enough votes to get seats on the exco.

Another who was touted as a possible candidate, Floyd Mbele of Platinum Stars, declined the nomination.
It did not come as a surprise when Jomo Sono and Goolam Allie, who were on the previous committee, declined nominations.

This could be because their teams are no longer in the elite league and the National First Division will soon have its own committee.

But Khoza assured the two veteran administrators that they would be called upon when needed so the PSL could tap into their institutional memories.