Football’s return good for country’s happiness index

That was a close shave. This is what I thought as PSL chairman Irvin Khoza announced that they’ve decided to continue he season to the finish, restarting 8 August.

There had been strong suggestions that the PSL were considering cancelling the current season and waiting for lockdown to be lifted to resume football again. Speculation is that that the 2020/21 season may come only in November or even as late as early next year.

That would have been a big blow, and I must admit that I had already mentally prepared myself for the worst – the worst being me losing my job. I would have completely understood if the powers that be decided to suspend my employment because I would not expect them to pay me while I sit at home and doing nothing for at least five months.

I am not the only one who was going to be affected. Every soccer journalist would have possibly suffered the similar fate. Television crew people, presenters, analysts, commentators – both TV and radio – all these people would have been left without a salary for as long as football remained banned.

There are also several football-only publications that would have collapsed and perhaps shut down. Clubs would have also had to let go of their staff and even players because the grant would have been stopped and they would not be able to pay salaries and keep their business going.

The protracted process dogged by constant squabbling between the PSL and Safa over issues concerning the return of football was bringing anxiety to some people. Speaking to Maritzburg United coach, Eric Tinkler earlier today, he conceded that he had also been anxious because this game is his only livelihood – his only means of making an income for his family.

It was frustrating hearing people simply saying the PSL should wait. They overlooked the fact that while it is naturally just a form on entertainment or even a hobby, it is also a business, an active industry that creates thousands of jobs.

This is why I say it was a close shave and one is glad in the end, sanity prevailed, and we are back in business. Football’s return will also help with uplifting the country’s happiness index and keeping people home as they will be glued to their TVs watching games.

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