Khoza explains why Madlala is still acting PSL CEO after four years

Having grown the Premier Soccer League’s revenue consistently since coming on as the acting Chief Executive Officer, Mato Madlala has put the professional football governing organisation in a hard position.

READ: PSL announces R1 billion in revenue

Under her stewardship, the PSL’s revenue has grown by over 7% year-on-year to the impressive R1 billion announced on Thursday this week despite the economic melt-down that South Africa are experiencing.

Madlala cannot take the position on a full-time basis as she is also owner and chairperson of Golden Arrows who also need her attention.

PSL chairman, Irvin Khoza has had to deal with the question of why she remains as acting after all these years of success and he clarified the matter after Thursday’s Annual General meeting.

“I get asked this same question. Let’s make a declaration‚ once and for all. Let’s not be half-pregnant. Let’s decide either to take her on as a full-time CEO‚ (and she) leaves her position at Arrows or get a permanent CEO, because we can’t have it this way. We can’t have her acting and acting,” said Khoza.

“She’s doing a fantastic job but it’s also not good for her because it demands so much of her time. She’s a person who is hands-on at her club as well,” added the Orlando Pirates chairman.

“To be a CEO of the league is not an easy job‚ especially for a league as big and demanding as ours. So, maybe the time will come sooner than I expect to make a determination. But the clubs themselves come and say to me‚ ‘Chairman‚ she’s doing a fantastic job’.

“I’m on record to say we must have a new CEO. We were supposed to have one at the start of this season‚ I said that last time, but all the voices are saying something different‚ which makes it difficult for me,” explained Khoza.

It is under her leadership that the PSL signed a new broadcast deal with SuperSportTV and rewed sponsorship deals with Absa, MTN, Telkom and Nedbank while also netting GladAfrica to sponsor the National First Division which is now known as the GladAfrica Championship, putting to and end years of perceived neglect of the division.

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