|
PSL aims for top 10
15/04/2008 16:03 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Not content to be the best, biggest and strongest financially in Africa, the Premier Soccer League with a turnover of R500m per season aims to break into the top 10 leagues of the world.
In an interview the PSL chief executive officer, Kjetil Siem, outlined his plans for next season and beyond.
The Norwegian born CEO said he had enjoyed his tenure running the biggest soccer league on the continent, but said there was no time to rest on their laurels.
He envisages a more professional set-up and while realising the PSL will never match the super leagues of England, Italy, Germany, France and Spain, he believed the PSL could hold its own in the second tier under those leagues.
Said Siem: "I joined the PSL last August and admit I knew little of South African soccer. But I have been fortunate in having a top class executive committee and four people who have guided me through a highly enjoyable and very successful season. Without them I would never have succeeded."
Siem is full of praise for the way his chief operation officer, Ronnie Schloss, Andrew Dipela, Dan Leboa and Peter Mancer have rallied behind him in his first of a three year contract.
Delighted
Siem had a similar job in Norway where he was CEO of the Norwegian League which runs a professional first and second division.
He is delighted at the way the race for the Absa Premiership title has worked out this season.
The chase has developed into a race between three so called unfashionable sides, SuperSport United, Ajax Cape Town and Santos.
Siem said it was like a breath of fresh air the fact that the likes of United, Ajax, Santos, Golden Arrows and BidVest Wits were all ahead of super clubs Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
Said Siem: "I find it boring when the same teams compete annually for the league title such as we have in some European leagues where two or three sides compete every season for honours.
Our league is more exciting as we have seen the emergence of other sides coming through and breaking the dominance of the top sides."
He also praised the work Ajax Cape Town have done on development.
"I have been impressed by the professional development and facilities at Ajax. The facilities are as good as any club in Europe has."
High standard of television
Siem also praised Chiefs for their Village at Naturena which he said was superb. "Pirates are doing a wonderful job with the development academy."
Siem is happy with the high standard of television broadcasting of PSL matches. He rates the use of graphics on TV as "the best in the world."
The PSL sold the rights of TV broadcasting to SuperSport International earlier this season for a staggering R1.6bn.
The PSL has control over our product as to the number of games how and when they will be televised.
As a former sports journalists in Norway he sees the media as his allies.
"I cannot understand when people in the game are afraid of the media. I enjoy working with the media because of my background as a journalist I understand the media's needs.
"I see the media as partners like our sponsors. We both need each other and need to work together as closely as possible.
At the end of the day the media need stories to sell newspapers or boost radio and TV ratings while the PSL need the mileage to expose the league and players to the public."
He has made a promise to deliver on promises made.
In other words this CEO is determined to put his money where his mouth is.
- SAPA
|
