Premier Soccer League chairman Irvin Khoza has addressed concerns that clubs could potentially have to restart the season without some of their key players owing to the possibility that some of them have tested positive for Covid-19.
Speaking during a press conference on Monday, the league supremo confirmed plans to finish the balance of the 2019/20 campaign, but would not give dates, leaving that decision to SAFA to announce in the coming days.
The Siya crew has reported that the PSL is planning to restart the season this weekend, July 18, but the motherbody has asked for another two weeks for referees to be fit.
With clubs rigorously testing ahead of the resumption, Khoza was asked what happens if a team has as many as five players unavailable because of the deadly virus.
"There's a squad size that has been allocated to every team, but there's also a dispensation that has been provided for – that you can use your MDC players because here we've got to finish the season," was the chairman's response.
The MultiChoice Diski Challenge serves as the PSL's reserve league, but as of August last year the age limit was capped at U/21.
Khoza also reiterated that free agents – those who were unattached at the end of the previous transfer window and had their clearances by January 31, could be roped in by PSL clubs to help them finish the remainder of the season.
Clubs can also sign amateur players.
"You can also use players that are out of contract, the free agents. But what we have done is emphasised that we've got to finish the season, and if that means finishing with MDC players – then so be it. The season must be finished, because we are in this new normal that we did not bargain for. We are in a state of war," explained Khoza.
