Khoza re-elected PSL chairman
Dr Irvin Khoza, re-elected as chairman of the National Soccer League (NSL) on Thursday, said the country's professional football body would make a concerted effort to work with the SA Football Association (Safa).
"We are part of a committee that will support our national team Bafana Bafana," Khoza said.
"We have to make sure we work together with Safa to avoid surprises.
"We also acknowledge the performances of Banyana Banyana.
"We are working together with Safa to accommodate Fifa sanctioned dates."
Khoza, re-elected unopposed as the NSL chief, said they had tried to accommodate a request from Bafana coach Gordon Igesund to release Premier Soccer League (PSL) players ahead of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be played in South Africa, but they could not meet his request.
The league and PSL clubs had clashed with Safa in the past due to the unavailability of Bafana players for international matches and training camps.
"The coach wanted to have players in camp every Monday, and the agreement was that the coach would get access to all the players in the country -- including their training sessions," Khoza said.
"Having players assembling every Monday after weekend (league) games would not work."
Khoza, who was nominated last month to run against incumbent Gideon Sam for the president's seat at the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), would not be drawn on whether the potential post at the Olympic governing body would affect his position with the football organisation.
"I've been nominated (as Sascoc president), but at the moment I'm confirming my mandate as the new chairman of this organisation (NSL)," Khoza said.
A seven-member executive committee – Mike Mokoena, John Comitis, Daniel Simelane, Kaizer Motuang, Mato Madlala, Stanley Mathews and David Thidiela – was elected alongside Khoza, the long-running head of South Africa's professional football league.
"I want to welcome the members of the executive committee, especially those who are here for the first time," Khoza said.
"We hope the incoming committee will build on the platform the outgoing has left, and we have understood that, due to our relevance as the PSL, we have to be innovative."
