Government allows PSL return

Following weeks of thorough planning and negotiating, the Premier Soccer League has finally been given the green light to return, according to an announcement made by the South African Football Association (Safa) on June 12.

This means that all professional teams in the top flight as well as from the first division will now be allowed to return to training. An official return of soccer actions on your screens, however, is yet to be confirmed.

PSL action was abruptly put to a halt in early March in the wake of the threat of the coronavirus, leaving most teams with approximately seven more games to play.

Kaizer Chiefs leads the log with 48 points from 22 outings’ four points ahead of defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played a game less.

As per the approval statement by Safa of the long-awaited return of professional football, it reads:

“According to Government Gazette promulgated by Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture on June 11 , 2020 under the Disaster Management Act of 2002, football can resume training after complying with the regulations.

These regulations entail among others that all teams need to test for Covid-19 and chronic medical conditions as stipulated in the football return to training protocol adopted by the Safa Joint Liaison Committee (JLC) and results must be sent to the compliance officer.

Disinfection of the training venue is mandatory, so is the daily screening of Covid-19 symptoms for all those involved.

All teams are encouraged to undertake strict hand and respiratory hygiene and have a consulting doctor at all times as stipulated in the return to football protocol adopted by JLC.

There should be continuous education about Covid-19 and the federation must appoint a compliance officer in writing.

Safety precautions for the return of the PSLTeams, including all players/staff, will undergo first rounds of testing before training can resume.Teams will have to put in place protocols such as sanitising and ensuring social distancing measures before training can resume.

Another round of testing will take place before teams arrive at a ‘bio-safe zone’ (believed to be Sun City or other sporting venues).

Players and staff will be isolated in a quarantined venue for the duration of their stay in a bio-safe zone.

Daily screenings for possible symptoms and temperature checks will be done on all players and staff.

All equipment at training/match facilities will be sanitised regularly to safeguard against the transmission of the virus.

These measures are in line with the current government regulations in South Africa.

Teams will now be able to realistically plan training schedules for a return to competitive action for the outstanding 54 PSL matches to be concluded.”

While a restart date is still to be announced, it appears likely to be at the start of July.

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