TS Galaxy boss Tim Sukazi has welcomed the addition of the African Clubs Association, saying it will give clubs a voice concerning scheduling and other issues.
The ACA was formed, and the new leadership was elected in Cairo, Egypt, last month, chaired by CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
It was a platform and a structure created where clubs could have a voice in African football, with Young Africans Hersi A. Said being elected as the inaugural Chairman of the ACA.
Kaizer Chiefs commercial and marketing manager Jessica Motaung and Nigeria’s Paul Bassey from Akwa United were named deputies.
Sukazi attended the ACA launch on behalf of the PSL since he is well-versed when it comes to the side of the law of the games, to ensure everything was above board.
“ACA is a good add-on, to be honest for African football,” Sukazi told iDiski Times.
“All that remains now is for it to follow the letter of its founding statutes. If everything is executed to the letter, I think it will be a good add-on – it will add efficiency, and it will add credence to African football.
“It might prove to be a watershed moment whereby you will see several sponsors showing confidence in African football and sponsoring the leagues in various countries because not too many African countries are running successful leagues in their countries.
“This is the kind of value that the ACA will bring into African football. But it is easier said than done. Right now what remains is the work to be done for those who have been elected – I’m talking about the board of the ACA.”
Sukazi, along with many stakeholders in the PSL, were not happy about the scheduling of the African Football League dates which were released in September, unlike at the beginning of the season, complicating the league’s schedule and making them have to postpone matches for Mamelodi Sundowns to feature.
It was the competition that Sukazi initially raised his concerns about when it was first announced. It was meant for big clubs playing in it, with Sukazi expressing the danger it might pose to the PSL, that clubs will use the second string team because the AFL comes with a purse.
Sundowns won the inaugural competition, beating Wydad Casablanca, and pocketed R75 Million, which dwarfs all cup competition prize monies in the PSL.
Sukazi said that during the proceedings in Cairo, CAF President Motsepe acknowledged that they erred.
“The CAF president, in his introductory remarks at the launch, acknowledged the challenges posed by the scheduling of matches in various countries,” said Sukazi.
“He did say that this is one of the things (that was problematic), he wants to see things resolved with the founding of the ACA – it is a major thing that he put upfront, to say the ACA needs to focus its attention on it, because of the Achilles heel to the organization.
“The strength of the league, our league in particular here, obviously is on the back of financial support that we get from the broadcasters, sponsors per se.
“So, he did say that and I think that will be a focal point more than anything so that it will help a lot. He did say that there are lessons that have been learned from AFL that have been recently concluded.
“From CAF’s point of view, they now know where to improve on and they want to improve from those lessons learned, and it is one of the key things that will be addressed – scheduling.”
