Former AmaZulu general manager Lunga Sokhela has reinstated his position on the Premier Soccer League to consider adding young people to the league's leadership.
Sokhela believes that the PSL could further improve if fresh minds and ideas were to be allowed to contribute in what is already one of the respected and profitable leagues on the continent.
According to Sokhela, the PSL should look at no further than CAF, where after former Mamelodi Sundowns President Patrice Motsepe took over, there has been notable improvement as new innovations are being introduced.
Sokhela also made his point in reference to recent comments by SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt who suggested that 'football in South Africa needs a reboot from everything.'
The Good
"I'm not sure what the response was to Gavin Hunt's comment about the PSL needing a revamp. I thought what he said made a lot of sense and I agree with him fully. I think we are at a point now where we can say we've had, how many years now, almost 30 years of the new PSL. Let all the role players get into a room and say, 'Guys, how do we move on to the next 30 years or what we have been doing to make things better?' Then everyone would need to start implementing those things. One thing we need to understand is that it is so important for the professional league to do well for the national team to do well. If Bafana Bafana can get into the top 15 in the world, that would bring dignity to our football. But if Bafana is in position 85 or whatever position they are at right now, that is not good for the country's football," he said.
The Bad
On PSL Needing New Leadership
"It definitely does and this is not to take a jab at anyone. It's just how things are. I've got a lot of respect for people that say, 'Hey, I think I've put in a lot of energy in this and I have given 10 years of service to this organisation, I need to step aside and let somebody else come in with fresh ideas.' That to me shows a lot of leadership. I'm sure even you in your career you get to a point where you become stale if you have been in the same position for long. You become tired and want a new challenge and want to do different things. It makes complete sense. I often get asked, 'Would you ever go back to football?' In response I tell people that I gave 15 years of my life to football. I think we sold (AmaZulu) at the right time (in 2020). It's good to have a new person (Sandile Zungu, current AmaZulu boss) come in, plant some money and bring a new vision and do different things, and we must support him. I still have full support of AmaZulu Football Club and that's good for the institution. The club is given the opportunity to grow," said Sokhela.
The Ugly
"It's very important that we get young people into the PSL. Since Trevor Phillips (former PSL CEO), there's no marketing department, it's non-existent. Back in the day, during my time as an administrator in the league we would have marketing workshops. All the marketing managers from all the different clubs would attend and come up with ideas and the PSL would come and ask how they can assist clubs and so on. That doesn't exist anymore. Trevor Phillips did what he did and put the PSL at the level he put it and he left. But when you look there, there are still the same faces. I mean, Prof (Ronnie) Schloss, I think he's been since 1960, or whatever. He's still there and the executive are the same people since God knows when. It's not an insult but you look and ask, 'Shouldn't these guys be sitting at home now with their grandchildren to allow for some fresh ideas to come in to take the league to the next level?'" Sokhela added.
Something Different About CAF
"Look at CAF, they have new energy now with Patrice Motsepe being the new person and the new face of the organisation. He took over from Issa Hayatou who had been there for 30 or so years. There's something different now about CAF and we hear about the Super League and all the other innovations," concluded Sokhela.
Does PSL Need Change In Leadership?
