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Call to pay refs, players more
19/02/2008 12:12 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Jomo Sono, chairperson and coach of Jomo Cosmos, has made a call to hand referees a better deal in light of the Premiership's increased sponsorship.
"This is really good news for South African football, especially the professional wing. Everybody knows the league is the most important of all our competitions and it is befitting that clubs and players are recognised in such a way," Bra J says on the Ezenkosi website.
"It would have been great if the money could be channelled is such a way that it also benefits the most vital component of the game, the match officials. The referees are a very crucial part of our game that without them you can imagine what would happen.
"These are the people without whom we can't play and I would suggest that part of the money be used to bring the referees on par with us as far as remuneration is concerned. We should triple their salaries and make them full time.
"Pay them a competitive salary and the temptations to take something on the sideline will be minimised if not eroded." said the man also known as "Troublemaker within local soccer circles.
'Severely punished'
Sono points out that if a group of elite whistle men is chosen and formed into an independent body with no ties to the Premier Soccer League, as that body is controlled by the club chairperson, could be the answer. The officials will know that they have a panel the monitors their performance week in and week out and take steps once a referee erred.
"They will know that they will be severely punished," he said.
Sono believes that the referees would be able to concentrate on their careers on a full-time basis and be above outside influence.
"You can imagine what could happen with the kind of money at stake for teams who, at the closing stage of the league championship, need three points to clinch it. The referee could be bribed if he is poorly paid.
"Look this has happened in other leagues in the world, Italy for example. A big team like Juventus was found to have been involved in match-fixing while they were winning titles in the Serie A. You remember Marseille in France" We must avoid that in our game. That is why I would like us to address the lot of the referee."
South African Football Players Union also hails the bonanza and reiterated its call to Premiership clubs to offer players more competitive salaries, as well as establish insurance benefits to players.
"The increase of grants to the PSL clubs should serve as a call to club owners to reward the players accordingly and establish player's benefits," says Sapfu media officer Elvis Sekgobela.
'Compel clubs'
He says the PSL should fast-track plans to put in place a minimum salary for Premiership and First Division players.
"Gone are the days when players used to stay in shabby club houses when club bosses lives in mansions. We urge the PSL to compel clubs to introduce a livable wage."
Commenting on the R10m incentive for the league champions, Amakhosi boss Kaizer Motaung, says this is enough to challenge all our teams to produce a kind of football that can match the offering.
"The challenge is for all administrator, technical team and club officials to knuckle down and produce a highly competitive and sophisticated league programme," he says on the Naturena-based outfit's website.
"In stating the above, we also expect that players as primary benefactors would work hard to earn their keep and give our supporters their money's worth.
"Facing such huge incentives should also challenge our players to reinvent their commitment to their sport whilst addressing any personal matters that may hinder their progression in their chosen career. After all, playing active football is such a short career that demands some measure of responsibility, dedication and some huge adjustments in the personal make-up of these talented icons."
For more PSL news, visit kickoff.co.za
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