The chairman of the Premier Soccer League (PSL), Dr Irvin ‘Iron Duke’ Khoza has called for the immediate halt to xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals.
Khoza wondered how South Africans would react if they fell victim to such attacks when visiting neighbouring countries. “We have foreign nationals who play for our club and the local leagues, and we all love them,” he said.
The chairman pointed out that his club, Orlando Pirates would be leaving for a game over the weekend in Guinea and “we don’t want our players to fall victim of a cycle of violence there, which will be precipitated by the current violence against foreign nationals in our country”.
Khoza is being supported by the 32 Premier Soccer League club captains who have taken a stand against the violence against foreigners. He has instructed the clubs from the Premier Division and National First Division to observe a moment of silence ahead of their fixtures this weekend, in respect of those who have lost their lives in the xenophobic attacks.
“Captains from all the clubs will read a message of solidarity for the victims of violence,” said Khoza. “The PSL calls for calm and tolerance. We say no to hatred of fellow human beings.”
He said it was disturbing that violence was being perpetrated by supporters of the various clubs in which the foreign nationals ply their trade.
