PSL programme could be thrown into disarray

The PSL executive meets on Monday to deliberate on Kaizer Chiefs’ failure to honour a weekend fixture due to high Covid-19 cases in their camp, with expectations that the Amakhosi will not  be able to field a team for this week either.

After failing to host Cape Town City on Saturday, Chiefs were meant to travel to Golden Arrows on Wednesday, but team insiders said on Sunday no match would be possible as players had to first retest before any training could resume.

“We made it clear that our training base is closed due to having 31 cases,” a Chiefs insider said on Sunday.  

“We don’t even have a technical team because everyone is in isolation.

“There’s no way we can play on Wednesday because, for that to happen, we need to test again and allow the players to regain fitness after isolation.”  

The PSL executive first deliberated on the issue on Friday, but could not reach consensus on how to properly manage a situation which could throw the entire DStv Premiership fixture list into disarray.

A directive on the way forward is expected after Monday’s meeting, from which Chiefs owner Kaizer Motaung is expected to recuse himself as the request for postponement of five fixtures his team sent to the league last week will be discussed.

One of the options for the PSL would be to bring the entire programme to a halt for now to avoid a heavy backlog for Chiefs, who have made it clear they would honour fixtures only once given the all-clear by medical professionals.

According to SA Football Association (Safa) senior medical officer Dr Thulani Ngwenya, players need at least 10 days before starting to train after recovering from Covid-19, meaning Chiefs will need even more time before they have their players back.

“After recovering [from Covid], you need to retest. Your test needs to be negative ... then you need at least 10 days where you have to have no symptoms.

“From there, you can gradually graduate to full training,” Ngwenya said.

“We don’t recommend that you must play immediately after the 10 days.

“In the first week after recovery you do minimal activities, after three days you can increase your activities.

“We must always be careful because we are talking about the lives of people here.”

Chiefs have also defended themselves from suggestions they field their reserve team to make up for the senior players recovering from the virus.

“How do we do that when the entire [Chiefs] village is locked? Where would these players train?

“Which dressing rooms would they use?” another Chiefs source said.

PSL acting chief executive Mato Madlala and Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

In January, the PSL rejected Cape Umoya’s request to have their game against Cape Town Spurs postponed due to a large number of Covid-19 cases at the club.

The league later gave Spurs a 3-0 walkover. This precedence could put Chiefs in trouble.

It is unclear if the PSL would do the same with Chiefs, after City arrived at the FNB Stadium on Saturday to find locked gates.

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