Ramaphosa Praises Dr Khoza And The PSL
President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairman Irvin Khoza and league leadership for operating what he hailed as Africa’s best-organized sports structure.
Ramaphosa paid a surprise visit to PSL headquarters on Monday, a trip that coincided with final preparations for nationwide local government elections scheduled across the country in 48 hours.
While Ramaphosa has crisscrossed the nation campaigning for the governing African National Congress (ANC)—amid voter concerns regarding local service delivery and asylum seeker policies—his Monday engagement centered squarely on celebrating South African football.
Speaking to SABC News after meeting Khoza and executive leadership, Ramaphosa lauded the league’s profound social impact:
“My visit here, as it has been the courtesy, it is just to pay tribute to the PSL for what they have achieved; they are the best-organised league on the continent,” said Ramaphosa.
“Running the most popular sporting code in the country, which is football. He was showing Nelson [Mandela, the late president] measurement.
“He said their business is a happiness index; they deal with the happiness of the people. That is so true. Seventy-seven per cent of South Africans love sport, and they are supporters of football.
“Thereafter, there is rugby, but football has always been a top sporting code. So, for me, it was to come and pay tribute to them for being the best-organised league and bringing happiness to our people through the way in which they run the league.”
Ramaphosa’s visit came just days after Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs faced off in the much-anticipated Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The match also attracted the presence of French football legend Thierry Henry, who attended in his capacity as a global ambassador for Betway, the league’s headline sponsor.
Pirates went on to win the 186th edition of the Soweto Derby 2-1 in controversial circumstances, with Yanela Mbuthuma’s opening goal sparking debate after replays appeared to show the forward in an offside position.
Ramaphosa also praised the Soweto Derby, highlighting its reputation as one of the biggest football spectacles on the continent and beyond.
“But also, the Derby; the Derby, which they have told me they have trademarked it, is the best Derby on the continent and also globally,” he added.
“This is the best achievement for us as South Africans, so therefore, I wanted to come and just say, ‘Well done, keep on doing well. We are very proud of you and what the PSL has achieved and what football has achieved in our country.'”
The visit comes as the PSL celebrates 30 years of existence, having been established ahead of the 1996/97 season.
