With his term as chairman of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) set to come to an end in 2024, a detailed succession plan has been revealed. Irvin Khoza has been the chairman of the PSL since its inception in 1996 and was re-elected unopposed in 2020.
PSLSA previously reported that preparations are underway at the Parktown-based organization to groom candidates to take over the role should the Pirates supremo decides to step down. SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews, one of three candidates believed to be groomed by Khoza, including Golden Arrows chairperson Mato Madlala and Cape Town City chairman John Comitis, says he’s ready to serve, should he be needed.
“Those shoes are too big to fill right now, I’m very happy with the Chairman we have in the Premier Soccer League,” Matthews said on Marawa Sports Worldwide. “In the future, any role I can play in South African football that’s a positive role that brings my intellectual capital to bear, the experience that I’ve had at club level, the experience of 16 years serving on the Premier League (PSL), my experience of serving at the SAFA executive committee. I’m ready to serve when I’m needed but right now we’ve got the most wonderful chairman that I’m privileged to have learned from over the past two decades,” he said.
Matthews also revealed that the League is aware of the need to have young leaders and they have set up a sub-committee comprising the young administrators currently involved in the running of clubs owned by their parents.
“If you look at the sub-committees of the league right now we’ve got the young innovation committee which is made up of young future talent within the PSL,” he carried on. “The future kids that are going to be running the clubs that their fathers and mothers are leaving behind, it’s certainly front of mind to us that we need continuity,” he concluded.
Tlhopane Motsepe, the son of Mamelodi Sundowns owner, Dr. Patrice currently holds the position as chairman after his father relinquished the role to become President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Kaizer Chiefs also appointed the son of owner and chairman Dr. Kaizer Motaung, Kaizer Jr to the role of Sporting Director, with his older sister and brother Jessica (Marketing and Commercial Director) and Bobby (Football Manager) respectively, also involved in the running of the club.
Dr. Khoza, who is also the chairman of Pirates, also has two sons, Mpumi and Nkosana, who are already involved in the management of the Buccaneers.
With preparations underway to identify and groom a potential successor to Dr. Khoza, Stan Matthews has made it clear that he is ready to serve the PSL should he be needed. The League has also set up a sub-committee of young administrators to ensure continuity and an effective succession plan is in place.
