Cyril Ramaphosa and Irvin Khoza have a message for SA football supporters ahead of elections
Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairperson Dr Irvin Khoza has warned football supporters that they cannot demand upgraded sports facilities if they fail to vote.
Speaking during a high-profile visit by President Cyril Ramaphosa to the PSL headquarters in Parktown on Monday, the veteran administrator insisted that a strong turnout at the ballot box is the only way to hold government accountable for community development.
It’s emotional, because we are saying to our people all over the country, it’s very important for you to vote. You cannot go to government to ask for facilities to be updated, and then not make it a point to make a statement.
President Ramaphosa praised the PSL as the best-organised league on the African continent and acknowledged the league’s significant role in South African society.
The chairperson was showing me the Nielsen measurements. He says their business is the ‘happiness index’, that they deal in the happiness of the people. And that is so true. 77 percent of South Africans who love sport are supporters of football. Football has always been the top code.
The league has postponed its fixtures to allow stakeholders across all 32 clubs an opportunity to participate in the 2026 Local Government Elections.