PREMIER Soccer League (PSL) chief executive Kenny Ndebele has allayed fears that the governing body for the local top-flight league could cease to be a semi-autonomous body because of his involvement with the newly-formed National Football Association of Zimbabwe (Nafaz).
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
Ndebele’s appointment as secretary general of Nafaz and of PSL chairman Peter Dube as the newly-formed body’s second vice-president has led to fears that the PSL would cease to be a stand-alone entity affiliated to the national association.
But the seasoned administrator — who is widely acknowledged for transforming the top-flight league — said he was still actively involved with premiership football.
“I’m currently a full-time PSL employee as the chief executive officer. I was only asked to come in and assist in the initial stages of the establishment of the new national association, Nafaz. As you are aware, PSL is an affiliate of the national association, where we are a key stakeholder,” Ndebele said.
“The PSL chairman has always been an executive member of the national association’s executive board but this time there was the opportunity for PSL to have more say in the day-to-day running of the national association, with the chairman Peter Dube also becoming the second vice-president of Nafaz,” he said
“We believe our involvement will help facilitate the smooth establishment of the new association, but in terms of the structure, we still have the same statutes, rules and regulations. We still have our same partners Delta Beverages through their Castle Lager brand, whom we have had for six years. There is no money or any funding that goes to the national association except for the normal affiliation fees and the 6% from the gate-takings. The PSL structure remains the same as it still enjoys its semi-autonomous setup, just as it was in the past.”
Ndebele believes their involvement with Nafaz will help the league have a bigger say in the way football is run in the country.
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“It is a similar structure to that of our neighbours South Africa, where the vice-president of Safa [South African Football Association] is Irvin Khoza, who is also their PSL chairman. Going forward, we will also look at other areas we feel we can contribute to at national level, like the establishment of the club licensing board and the dispute resolution chamber so that we grow as a country,” Ndebele said.
