Postponement of football has left Gauteng poorer – sports MEC
Gauteng MEC for sports, arts and culture Mbali Hlophe bemoans the void left by the postponement of football due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Chiefs and Pirates fans have trolled each other about their respective poor set pieces. ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
The province is the home of big Premiership clubs Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, SuperSport United and Bidvest Wits.
READ: PSL working on plans for the resumption of the league
“These teams have supporters throughout the country and many travel to watch them play. In this regard, the loss of income we now face is tremendous when you consider its effects on the sport and arts economy, and on tourism and the service industry.
“Succinctly, this affects many layers – the club owners, the players, bed and breakfast establishments, the performing artists on match days, all the way down to the hawkers who sell food during games,” Hlophe told the City Press.
“It is in this regard that we will be meeting with the PSL to discuss post-lockdown possibilities and plans.”
Meanwhile, as reported earlier, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) is set to meet with Minister of Sports and Recreation Nathi Mthethwa on Thursday to discuss the possibilities of resumption of the league programme.
The league action was suspended in March in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
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