South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has explained his decision to pay a courtesy visit to the PSL headquarters in Parktown on Monday, stating he wanted to personally pay tribute to what he described as the best-organised league on the African continent.
Ramaphosa’s high-profile visit comes just days after the sold-out Soweto Derby between arch-rivals Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in the Betway Premiership at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Flanked by PSL chairman Dr Irvin Khoza at the league’s headquarters, president Ramaphosa addressed journalists on the core motivation behind his visit, revealing it was grounded in acknowledging the domestic top flight’s massive societal impact.
“My visit here, as it has been courteous, has also been just to pay tribute to the PSL for what they have achieved,” Ramaphosa told journalists.
RAMAPHOSA HAILS PSL AS ‘BEST ORGANISED LEAGUE IN AFRICA’ DURING COURTESY VISIT
“They [PSL] are the best-organised league on the continent and run the most popular sport code, which is football. He [Irvin Khoza] was showing me the Nielsen measurements. He says that their business is a happiness index that deals in the happiness of people, and that is so true.
“77% of South Africans who love sport are supporters of football, and thereafter there’s rugby, but football has always been the top sport. So, for me, it was to come and pay tribute to them and to thank them for being the best-organised league and bringing happiness to our people by the way in which they run the league.”
SOWETO DERBY HAILED AS A GLOBAL BENCHMARK
The Head of State also expressed appreciation for the PSL’s ongoing role in elevating local sports, singled out the Soweto Derby, and hailed it as one of the premier football spectacles across the globe.
“The derby, which he [Irvin Khoza] has told me that they have trademarked, is the best derby on the continent and also globally,” added Ramaphosa.
“So, this is a great achievement for us as South Africans. And so, therefore, I wanted to come and just say well done and keep doing well. We are very proud of what the PSL has achieved and what football has achieved in our country.”
Meanwhile, both president Ramaphosa and PSL chairman Khoza seized the platform to urge football enthusiasts to exercise their democratic right in the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections on Wednesday, 4 November.
“All the clubs of the PSL, all the clubs, we are asking you and the supporters to go and vote in numbers. It will be most appreciated and make this a successful and exciting election,” declared Khoza.
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