Football fans across the country will be smiling from ear to ear as they rejoice at the return of the Absa Premiership from 8 August.
The Board of Governors of the National Soccer League (NSL), which is the custodian of the professional Premier Soccer League, decided to resume the unfinished 2019/20 season which was disrupted by the outbreak of the Covid-19 global pandemic.
Speaking at a press conference at the league’s headquarters in Parktown following a virtual meeting, the league’s chairperson Dr Irvin ‘Iron Duke’ Khoza said they were ready to resume and complete the season which was abandoned with only six games to go. Along with the league season, the other knockout cup competition which was abandoned was the Nedbank Cup – at semi-final level.
The Nedbank Cup is popularly known as the ‘David versus Goliath’ cup as it features teams from the amateur divisions as well.The Board of Governors unanimously agreed to resume the Absa Premiership season on 8 August, opening with the Nedbank Cup semi-finals while the Absa Premiership and the GladAfrica Championship fixtures will follow soon after Dates and kick-off times are still to be confirmed, Khoza said.
Khoza confirmed the Nedbank Cup semi-finals between Mamelodi Sundowns versus Bidvest Wits will be played on 8 August while the Baroka versus Bloemfontein Celtic clash will take place the following day on Women’s Day.
The two semi-final games will then decide which of the two sides will make the final.
After the Nedbank Cup games, it will be open season as the Absa Premiership teams begin to battle to complete the remaining six games and produce the Absa Premiership champion for the 2019/20 season.
Currently, Kaizer Chiefs tops the league with 48 points from 22 games while their nearest rivals, Mamelodi Sundowns have 44 points from 21 games, with a game in hand against AmaKhosi.
Khoza said it was imperative that the league resumes sooner than later so that it can open the way for the new season which, under normal circumstances, should have commenced in August.
“We should also take cognisance of the Fifa calendar and that of Caf [Confederation of African Football], which tend to be disruptive in the running of the league. The earlier the new season begins the better for us.
“Khoza concluded that all the Covid-19 protocols needed have already been put in place and will be observed by all and sundry.
“These will be fan-free games. They will be played in closed stadiums and all the fans can do is to watch them on the television.”
