Enormous PSL clanger
2007-07-10 22:18
Johannesburg - A PSL clanger of enormous proportions, which will need the wisdom of Solomon to solve it, has left the annual four-team Charity Cup extravaganza immersed in a major crisis.
This emerged on Tuesday when the Confederation of African Football (Caf) rejected a request to change the date of Mamelodi Sundowns' Confederation Cup game against CS Sfaxien in Tunis from August 5 - the same day on which the PSL has designated the three-match Charity Cup.
Already having under the hardship of having to switch the Charity Cup from its usual venue at FNB Stadium to Mmabatho Stadium because of 2010 World Cup reconstruction, the event would sadly be degraded to B-status without the presence of the PSL champions.
Not only are Sundowns the top team in the country at the moment, but they are also winners of the Charity Cup for the past three years.
Staging the tournament without them could be likened to an enactment of Cinderella without Prince Charming.
Must find a solution
"We had truly expected Caf to change the date of the Sundowns-Sfaxien game," said a visibly stunned Trevor Phillips, whose tenure as PSL CEO is due to end this month.
"I don't know what we can do about it right now, but clearly we will have to try everything within our power to come up with a solution."
Phillips said the PSL had handed the Sundowns postponement issue to Safa to take up with Caf in accordance with protocol in such matters.
"but," he added, "perhaps we can go back to the continent's controlling body with a stronger case by emphasising the charity aspect and how this competition has benefitted the needy by raising millions of rands in the past two decades."
Sundowns' executive director, Afzhal Khan, said the double-dating of fixtures had been brought about by the PSL - "and it is up to them to now come up with a solution to the problem," he added.
And Khan vehemently rejected the insinuation by Phillips that Sundowns initially had been given the option by Caf to play their Confederation Cup game in Tunisia a week earlier.
Commitments to sponsors
"There is absolute no truth to this," said the Sundowns executive director. "The PSL made their decision knowing full well about our Caf fixture - and it is up to them to get out of the jam they created."
Meanwhile, Caf's reasons for not agreeing to a change in date of the Sundowns' game was "because of commitments to sponsors - and, in particular, television partners.
So, with cutting the soccer baby in half being out of the question, it seems, what will a modern-day Solomon come up with this time?
- SAPA