PSL to switch to January to December season

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cr@zydude

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The PSL are finalising plans to synchronise the season with the rest of Africa's.
After years of being out of kilter with the African football calendar, this will probably take place at the beginning of the 2014 season, which starts in February that year and finishes in December.

"We wanted to have it now but 2014 is the likely date because of the two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in 2012 and 2013. It will be difficult to squeeze in the change in those years," said PSL chairman Irvin Khoza.

"We have informed Safa of our intentions. We changed the calender to accommodate Bafana Bafana. The options are a compressed six-month league programme or an 18-month season. The board of governors have been discussing it and we are at an advanced stage."

"The Christmas break is important in SA and there are also weather issues to be considered because it gets hot during summer. Maybe we can play late matches," said Khoza.

The PSL have written to Safa and Cosafa to forward a proposal on their behalf to Caf, the continental body. The proposal is that the early rounds of the African Champions League be played on a regional basis, with the top sides clashing with other regions in the later stages.

SA clubs have been struggling to make an impression in continental competitions for many years. Khoza believes the proposed calendar change will increase their chances.

"We normally sign players before our season starts in August. By that time, the African Champions League and the Confederations Cup are almost halfway and we cannot use these players, having done the registrations with Caf at the beginning of those cup competitions in January," he said.

The Orlando Pirates boss added that the vastness of the continent was a problem for the travelling teams.

"Regional preliminary rounds will help in shortening the travel distance and it will make it exciting for people to participate. It will address cost implications because when you go to some countries you go via Europe.

"We think that if the innovation is accepted, it will become easy to make these cup competitions a big success."

The league announced on Friday that SuperSport had acquired the PSL broadcast rights for five more years. The deal, which will start at the beginning of the 2012/13 season, includes internet and mobile rights.

The rights are worth well over R2-billion.

Free-to air broadcasters such as SABC and e.tv can get sub-licensing deals from SuperSport.
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Times Live

What do you guys think about this? I grew up with a August to May season, but I know that SA soccer was played like this before. Would it be good to go back?

As for the CAF competitions, I have always thought that the qualifiers should start as regional rounds, like they do in Asia. Also the group stage, for the Champions League at least, should be 16 teams.

I do think that leagues like the Vodacom League (provincial) and SAB League (regional) should play on this calender, for better intergration with local sports. As for the PSL and NFD, it could work. With the Africa Cup of Nations every 2 years, in January, and World Cup only every 4 years, it could result in less down time.

Also, not all African countries work on a January to December league, it's about a 50-50 split in Africa.
 
cr@zydude said:
Times Live

What do you guys think about this? I grew up with a August to May season, but I know that SA soccer was played like this before. Would it be good to go back?

As for the CAF competitions, I have always thought that the qualifiers should start as regional rounds, like they do in Asia. Also the group stage, for the Champions League at least, should be 16 teams.

I do think that leagues like the Vodacom League (provincial) and SAB League (regional) should play on this calender, for better intergration with local sports. As for the PSL and NFD, it could work. With the Africa Cup of Nations every 2 years, in January, and World Cup only every 4 years, it could result in less down time.

Also, not all African countries work on a January to December league, it's about a 50-50 split in Africa.
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It really makes no difference to us the supporters because the league takes a break during Xmas anyway. The only benefit to this is the synchronisation with African Champions league. Pirates the only team to ever win the continental tournament did this in 1995 when our league ran from Jan - Dec. Since the PSL was formed in 1997, our teams have really struggled in this tournament. I think we have only reached the final once since then (Sundowns vs Al Ahly, 2001) and lost miserably.
 
How does this impact on the other sporting codes? Like Rugby and Cricket?
 
JungleBoy said:
It really makes no difference to us the supporters because the league takes a break during Xmas anyway. The only benefit to this is the synchronisation with African Champions league. Pirates the only team to ever win the continental tournament did this in 1995 when our league ran from Jan - Dec. Since the PSL was formed in 1997, our teams have really struggled in this tournament. I think we have only reached the final once since then (Sundowns vs Al Ahly, 2001) and lost miserably.
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Yes, Sundowns drew 1-1 and lost 3-0 in the 2001 Champions League final. Kaizer Chiefs won the Cup Winners Cup in 2001. Other than that SA teams have done extremely poorly in CAF events. Maybe this will help, but I think the way coaches don't care about the tournement needs to change.

wallsend said:
How does this impact on the other sporting codes? Like Rugby and Cricket?
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I don't think it would do much. The 3 sports already have overlapping seasons anyway. What it could do is get some more people to watch the PSL in May, June and July, while European leagues are in the off season.
 
This is strange because CAF is often criticised for being the only continent that runs differently to the rest of the world. European clubs - who employ almost all of Africa's stars - complain that CAF's continental competions (African Cup of Nations) interfere with their African players' availability. Naturally, CAF's national competitions work around CAF's club competitions, meaning both will have to change if the other is altered. CAF's counter-argument is that African weather, which is in its extreme during the ''international season'', is not ideal for their players.

As a club point of view, I think it is best for our clubs. I remember Gavin Hunt - SuperSport United's gaffer - complaining that he was heading to an away tie in Morocco with insufficient first-team players to make a full 16-man squad due to him losing players via transfers and contracts expiring in line with the PSL season and then being unable to register his new players for CAF competitions.
 
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thestaggy said:
This is strange because CAF is often criticised for being the only continent that runs differently to the rest of the world. European clubs - who employ almost all of Africa's stars - complain that CAF's continental competions (African Cup of Nations) interfere with their African players' availability. Naturally, CAF's national competitions work around CAF's club competitions, meaning both will have to change if the other is altered. CAF's counter-argument is that African weather, which is in its extreme during the ''international season'', is not ideal for their players.

As a club point of view, I think it is best for our clubs. I remember Gavin Hunt - SuperSport United's gaffer - complaining that he was heading to an away tie in Morocco with insufficient first-team players to make a full 16-man squad due to him losing players via transfers and contracts expiring in line with the PSL season and then being unable to register his new players for CAF competitions.
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CAF isn't the only confederation which runs it's calender January to December. The AFC does the same, with the Asian Cup in January and their Champions League from February/March to November. The Copa Libertadores ends in June, but only starts in January. Even some leagues in Europe run January to December due to weather conditions.

The reason CAF get's the most stick about the Africa Nations Cup is that it's every 2 years, like the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and in January, like the Asian Cup. I'm fine with CAF running in a calender year, but there should be a registration period in August for teams that play in August to May leagues, and for mid season transfers in January to December leagues.
 
cr@zydude said:
CAF isn't the only confederation which runs it's calender January to December. The AFC does the same, with the Asian Cup in January and their Champions League from February/March to November. The Copa Libertadores ends in June, but only starts in January. Even some leagues in Europe run January to December due to weather conditions.

The reason CAF get's the most stick about the Africa Nations Cup is that it's every 2 years, like the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and in January, like the Asian Cup. I'm fine with CAF running in a calender year, but there should be a registration period in August for teams that play in August to May leagues, and for mid season transfers in January to December leagues.
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I stand corrected.

But on the whole it is probably best that we just change the PSL's calendar if we are at odds with CAF. Really won't harm us if we change. Only affect I can see will be on players leaving for European clubs at the end of a season when Europe's transfer window opens, as they'd already have a full season behind them and then potentially get stuck into another 3-4 months of European club football.
 
thestaggy said:
I stand corrected.

But on the whole it is probably best that we just change the PSL's calendar if we are at odds with CAF. Really won't harm us if we change. Only affect I can see will be on players leaving for European clubs at the end of a season when Europe's transfer window opens, as they'd already have a full season behind them and then potentially get stuck into another 3-4 months of European club football.
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Yeah, February/ March to November could work well in SA, our winters are not terrible. Plus, it would mean we don't need to shut down for the AFCON every 2 years. Also, we could get some extra Bafana friendlies in with local players during December and January.

Players going to European leagues could be a bit harder, but Russia, the USA and I'm sure other leagues are doing fine too.

Also, if I could redo the SA football calender post 2014, I'd have the PSL, and only 2 cups. The Telkom Knockout (16 team league cup) and expanded (32 to 64 team FA Cup) Nedbank Cup. The NFD also needs it's league cup brought back, and needs a better tv deal, theres barely money from that league down.
 
cr@zydude said:
Yeah, February/ March to November could work well in SA, our winters are not terrible. Plus, it would mean we don't need to shut down for the AFCON every 2 years. Also, we could get some extra Bafana friendlies in with local players during December and January.

Players going to European leagues could be a bit harder, but Russia, the USA and I'm sure other leagues are doing fine too.

Also, if I could redo the SA football calender post 2014, I'd have the PSL, and only 2 cups. The Telkom Knockout (16 team league cup) and expanded (32 to 64 team FA Cup) Nedbank Cup. The NFD also needs it's league cup brought back, and needs a better tv deal, theres barely money from that league down.
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I'd agree with this. The MTN 8 is a very odd tournament and should be scrapped. Not all teams participate and yet it is too long with two legged semi finals while the rest of the clubs sit and do nothing at the beginning of their season. I think it is not fair on teams that finish outside of the top 8 as their rhythm is disturbed by this inactivity.
 
cr@zydude said:
Yeah, February/ March to November could work well in SA, our winters are not terrible. Plus, it would mean we don't need to shut down for the AFCON every 2 years. Also, we could get some extra Bafana friendlies in with local players during December and January.

Players going to European leagues could be a bit harder, but Russia, the USA and I'm sure other leagues are doing fine too.

Also, if I could redo the SA football calender post 2014, I'd have the PSL, and only 2 cups. The Telkom Knockout (16 team league cup) and expanded (32 to 64 team FA Cup) Nedbank Cup. The NFD also needs it's league cup brought back, and needs a better tv deal, theres barely money from that league down.
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The NFD grants are getting better, but I do see your point. SuperSport's new 5-year deal with the PSL staring next season will see a monthly grant of R200,000 going to teams in the NFD. But the problem is sponsorship as well. Jomo Cosmos still carry no shirt sponsor and their ''big deall'' was Iveco providing them with free team buses for the 2011-12 season. It can only be worse at the next level with clubs barely being able to attract sponsors.

Less Cups are also a good idea. Do we have 64 clubs that can fulfill cup obligations though? Or would you start with regional draws to offset the possible scenario of a small club from Limpopo being unable to make a fixture in the Cape? I'd maybe throw a ''Super Cup'' in alongside the Telkon Knockout & Nedbank Cup, whereby the reigning PSL and Nedbank Cup champions meet in a one-off game as a curtain raiser to the PSL season. With regards to the NFD League Cup, it may habe been sponsorship that saw the end of the NFD league cup.

What's your opinion on the structure of the NFD? Do you think one big league or two smaller regional leagues is a better option? I'm of the opinion that the now abandoned regional league structure is a more economical solution.
 
thestaggy said:
The NFD grants are getting better, but I do see your point. SuperSport's new 5-year deal with the PSL staring next season will see a monthly grant of R200,000 going to teams in the NFD. But the problem is sponsorship as well. Jomo Cosmos still carry no shirt sponsor and their ''big deall'' was Iveco providing them with free team buses for the 2011-12 season. It can only be worse at the next level with clubs barely being able to attract sponsors.

Less Cups are also a good idea. Do we have 64 clubs that can fulfill cup obligations though? Or would you start with regional draws to offset the possible scenario of a small club from Limpopo being unable to make a fixture in the Cape? I'd maybe throw a ''Super Cup'' in alongside the Telkon Knockout & Nedbank Cup, whereby the reigning PSL and Nedbank Cup champions meet in a one-off game as a curtain raiser to the PSL season. With regards to the NFD League Cup, it may habe been sponsorship that saw the end of the NFD league cup.

What's your opinion on the structure of the NFD? Do you think one big league or two smaller regional leagues is a better option? I'm of the opinion that the now abandoned regional league structure is a more economical solution.
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You hit the nail on the head with the Cosmos issue, Maritzburg also carry no shirt sponsor. While the TV money is good/great, there is still at lot of room for sponsorship. The 'small' teams struggle a lot.

The Nedbank Cup starts with a main draw of 32, with lower level teams, only enetering at that point. It's 16 PSL teams, 8 NFD teams, and then I'm not sure how the Vodacom (provincial) and SAB (regional) leagues make up the last 8 teams.

A super cup could work, but at the moment all the hype and cash has gone to the Black Label Cup. The Charity Cup was killed so that Chiefs and Pirates could make more money.

I prefer the one league, but it needs more money, and stability. This licenece buy out **** irritates me no end. As for the league cup, it did die due to lack of sponsorship. The main reason that I prefer this format over the last few years is the number of games. Teams now play 30 league games, instead of 21. We do have provincial and regional leagues, the 3rd and 4th tiers.
 
cr@zydude said:
You hit the nail on the head with the Cosmos issue, Maritzburg also carry no shirt sponsor. While the TV money is good/great, there is still at lot of room for sponsorship. The 'small' teams struggle a lot.

The Nedbank Cup starts with a main draw of 32, with lower level teams, only enetering at that point. It's 16 PSL teams, 8 NFD teams, and then I'm not sure how the Vodacom (provincial) and SAB (regional) leagues make up the last 8 teams.

A super cup could work, but at the moment all the hype and cash has gone to the Black Label Cup. The Charity Cup was killed so that Chiefs and Pirates could make more money.

I prefer the one league, but it needs more money, and stability. This licenece buy out **** irritates me no end. As for the league cup, it did die due to lack of sponsorship. The main reason that I prefer this format over the last few years is the number of games. Teams now play 30 league games, instead of 21. We do have provincial and regional leagues, the 3rd and 4th tiers.
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The licence point is a good one. I recall Benoni Premier United buying Hellenic's PSL status, swopping players and playing under each others names. Naturally the Benoni-Hellenic side was relegated from the PSL while the Hellenic-Benoni NFD side went bankrupt as it was a PSL side operating within the financial confines of the NFD.

The NFD clubs go through a qualifying round amongst themselves to earn a spot in the Nedbank Cup. The clubs lower down go through a series of playoffs to determine the 8 representatives that make the final 32. The lower leagues are regional, meaning regional qualification matches are played. Pretty much how the Englsih FA Cup works; 2 Preliminary Rounds, followed by 4 Qualifying Rounds before the tournament proper starts. Did you not say you would expand the Nedbank Cup to 64 teams though? This may cause travel issues for the lower league guys who play regional qualifiers. It's one thing for a lower league Limpopo club to play against a fellow Limpopo club or a Jo'burg based club in the Round of 64, but another thing altogether if they are drawn against a team in the Cape. This will be a real problem for some, so I'm sure some sort of regional qualification process will need to be implemented unless arrangements are made in terms of a travel subsidy for the little fish.

Yeah, I think you're right with regards to a single 16 team NFD instead of two 8 team streams. It is a lot more competitive as well. Instead of 3-4 strong sides in an 8 team division you could have 6-8 in a larger division. An increase in sponsorship will help no end.

It's sad that so much money is directed to the two Soweto Giants at the expense of the others. Even worse is that most of the games between the two are dull.
 
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