South African Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has lauded Premier Soccer League [PSL] chairman Dr Irvin Khoza, crediting his visionary leadership with transforming South African football into a powerhouse defined by professionalism, commercial viability, and integrity.
Taking to his official X [formerly Twitter] account over the weekend, McKenzie expressed profound gratitude to Khoza, who has been at the helm of the league’s executive committee since 2003 and was re-elected unopposed for another term in November 2024.
Under Khoza’s stewardship—alongside his duties as Orlando Pirates chairman—the PSL has cemented its status as one of the elite and most financially lucrative sporting leagues on the African continent. Driven by lucrative broadcast rights, major corporate partnerships, and aggressive commercial ventures, the league currently generates an annual revenue exceeding R1 billion.
This robust financial ecosystem directly empowers top-flight clubs, with every Betway Premiership outfit receiving a monthly grant of approximately R2.5 million to sustain operations.
SPORTS MINISTER GAYTON MCKENZIE SALUTES IRVIN KHOZA’S LEGACY
In his online tribute, McKenzie underscored the rare administrative stability and corporate appeal that Khoza has cultivated within the domestic game over the past two decades.
“We owe you a huge debt of gratitude; you have transformed football totally,” wrote Minister McKenzie on X.
“I have oversight over sports and can say openly the official PSL is a staff-driven organisation with sponsors fighting to be part of the PSL. All of them drawn in part by your [Khoza] professionalism and integrity.”
PRAISE COMES AMID ONGOING FRICTION WITH BLACK LEOPARDS BOSS
McKenzie’s ringing endorsement arrives during a period of friction within the domestic administrative landscape. The Minister’s comments come on the heels of scathing criticism directed at the league’s executive committee by Black Leopards owner David Thidiela.
Following Lidoda Duvha’s relegation from the Motsepe Foundation Championship, Thidiela publicly called for the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to intervene in PSL governance. The veteran administrator accused league leadership of unfair treatment. He claimed concerted efforts were being made to push him out of the professional game.
Thidiela has since escalated his legal campaign to retain his club’s professional status. He is taking the dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] in Switzerland after exhausting domestic legal remedies.
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