Editor's Column - Clint Roper
So where do you stand on the R65 million in commissions that the nine PSL Executive Committee members will share for brokering the R2 billion broadcasting rights deal for the PSL? It's a tough one, really, because there are two sides of the proverbial coin to look at here. On the one side, when you look at the state of our PSL, you have to wonder if there is not a better use for the R65 million that these nine members will share. Here at Soccer Laduma, we are constantly in touch with legends of the game and, while some of them looked after their money in their playing days, many of them have come upon hard times. We do our best to line up as many of them as possible with campaigns and sponsorship opportunities, but some are really struggling and, while these campaigns may provide some relief, what would be far more rewarding for them would be a PSL pension of some sort that could certainly be boosted by some part of that R65 million. Then there is the fact that there are several PSL outfits running at a loss at present, with owners having to put in their own money to keep their clubs in the black and running smoothly. Surely some of that R65 million could have been used to assist in keeping these clubs afloat. Certainly news of PSL clubs in the red cannot sound very good to league sponsors Absa, who, as a financial institution, obviously want to align with organisations whose members can demonstrate sound financial stability. By recently pulling out of Springbok rugby, it is clear that Absa are not afraid to leave big sporting brands if they feel they are not pulling their weight. Certainly the media attention and public opinion – not all of it very positive – surrounding the R65 million must have caught the eye of the PSL's main sponsor. What's more, dishing out R65 million in commissions to nine committee members also surely sends a message to the current and potential sponsors that the league is not really in need of any more sponsorship money, if you consider the amounts of money being given away. There are so many more things this money could be used on to aid professional soccer in this country we could be here all day. The establishment of top academies at each PSL club or possibly an incentive programme to start academies would be much better use of this money when you consider how poorly our club teams fair on the continent, and how poor development is usually singled out as the main reason for this. Bigger grants for struggling NFD teams, who bleed money on a monthly basis as they try to gain some sort of parity with their PSL counterparts, would be another possible use of the money. The irony of South African soccer trying to clamp down on soccer agents earning big commissions on player deals is not lost on me either, and it would be interesting to see some agents' reactions to these hand-outs. Now, strangely, one might think that those in the PSL who are not on the inner circle that will receive these commissions might be bitter at these handouts, yet those that Soccer Laduma have spoken to seem to accept what has transpired with a general feeling that without the Executive Committee, there would not be nearly as much money flowing into the league. So it seems it's a case of being thankful more than resentful… at least that's the united front the rest of the league is putting out to the media and I guess it's a case of don't bite the hand that feeds you. But it's not all negative. Certainly the PSL has become the envy of the rest of the continent. It is well run, relatively well supported (albeit mainly by a TV audience) and certainly there is no shortage of sponsors. Coaches and players are among the best paid on the continent, with some players even preferring to earn Rands here as opposed to playing in smaller European countries. For this, certainly one man deserves every cent he has coming to him for his business acumen, passion for the sport and determination to get the best deals possible to ensure the financial future of the PSL – Irvin Khoza. He should take a bow for what he has done for the PSL and should get a king's ransom for what he has been able to do with professional South African soccer. And, yes, while the other eight members have certainly played their roles in South African soccer, it is nowhere close to what Khoza has achieved. So let us know here at Soccer Laduma which side of the fence you sit on when it comes to these huge individual pay-outs. Who deserves it and why? Who doesn't and why? Let us know. Before going, the entire Soccer Laduma organisation would like to wish Orlando Pirates the best of luck for the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup game this weekend. Fly the flag gents and do South African soccer proud! Shappa Clint
