A good dancer knows when to leave the stage, so goes the old saying, and that must be what most people in the fraternity thought after hearing the news of Dr Irvin Khoza possibly vacating the PSL chairmanship position. It has been reported in local media that the man who occupies arguably the hottest seat in domestic club football is unlikely to stand for re-election come November. Khoza, who is also the chairman of Orlando Pirates, has been in charge of the League since 2003 and has done a splendid job in making the PSL one of the most profitable leagues in the world. He also commands a lot of respect in football, business and life in general. Having turned 76 in January, it is believed that the “Iron Duke” is ready to pass the baton to another person although he hasn’t officially confirmed that. In this interview, Soccer Laduma’s Masebe Qina speaks to former AmaZulu FC general manager Lunga Sokhela about the possibilities of him taking over, should the chairmanship position become vacant in the near future. Sokhela also talks about the PSL CEO situation and share his thoughts on coming back to football one day.
Masebe Qina: Mr Sokhela, welcome back to the pages of Soccer Laduma. The big news in the fraternity in recent weeks has been that of the PSL chairmanship. What are your thoughts on Dr Irvin Khoza possibly stepping down as the chairman of the PSL?
Lunga Sokhela: Look, I think one has to first appreciate what he has done for the League over a long period of time whilst he has been at the helm. And maybe not just the League only but for South African football in general. We all know that he played a critical role in us securing the rights to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which was a monumental milestone in the South African football journey. So, we have to respect that, and we have to look ahead. Also, what he has done for his club Orlando Pirates, which is a club that has a lot of history. It’s probably the second-oldest club in the league after AmaZulu Football Club. It’s a club that is rich in history and he has done a phenomenal job in ensuring its financial stability, its growth as a brand and its growth as an institution as a whole. So, you can never take away his contribution at club level, PSL level, and at SAFA level as well. I think that must be the first port of call, to respect that.
