The Injustice of the Q phases Innovation Introduced by Dr. Irvin Khoza

In what he calls “the Q innovation” Khoza announced that there would be R1.5m cash prizes awarded to the teams that finish top of the PSL at the end of each quarter, with the eventual title winners earning R10m. I think what Khoza is saying is that there will be four mini-leagues (Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4) all added up to a final table.

There will be a prize of R1.5 million for the teams that finish the different quarters at the top. This is over and above the R10 million prize for the overall ABSA Premiership League winner. The prize money for the winner of the ABSA Premiership and the four Quarters is R16 million.

The PSL Executive has therefore decided to add an innovation to the ABSA Premiership that will create and sustain the excitement and conversation experienced in the final eight fixtures of the premiership, to last for all of each team’s thirty fixtures of the season.

To achieve this, the ABSA Premiership League will from this season, from today, be divided into Four Quarters, Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4. Q1 will have eight fixtures; Q2 seven; Q3 eight and Q4 seven. This means after every team has played eight games Q1 is over and Q2 starts with the re-set.

Similarly after every team has played an additional seven games Q2 will be complete and Q3 will commence with the re-set. So will Q4 commence after every team has played eight games in Q3 and the re-set.

My Personal Verdict about Q Phases Innovation

I am not resisting the new changes brought by the PSL Chairman but am against the timing of introducing this unique system to create hype and excitement. This Q phase Innovation never had a consultation process with affected and interested parties prior to its introduction. The press conference of this innovative idea caught many of affected and interested parties by surprise.

It’s good to be surprised but innovative concept of this nature deserves maximum attention for further scrutiny to ascertain the nuts and bolts. I’m worried that only teams that will come first will be rewarded but how about the teams coming number 2-16 in each phase. Okay, its fine that they will be awarded at the end of the season but this Q phases innovation will only benefit certain big teams who have the potential to win each phase.

To create hype and excitement, this Q phases innovation should also award number 2-16. All the teams should benefit from this idea. This idea is nothing but a capitalist idea where certain teams will benefits whilst the rest will be the spectators of this money show.

This Q phases innovation is nothing but a selfish idea to benefit certain teams. Dr Irvin Khoza should go back to the drawing board to review his innovative idea to make sure that all the teams benefit from this initiative but I doubt if it will happen as the innovative idea is already cast in stone.

PSL Journalists are going to win more cash prizes but the supporters who are spine of the game was excluded to tap into this Q phases innovation wealthy. Another ill-thought, selfish, decisive and dividing decision. Mara why? The money for predicting winners and score should have been shared between supporters and journos to create more hype and excitement. Let me borrow the words of famous Zimbabwean Rumba Paul Matavire "Football with fans is like sex without romance, tea without sugar or car without an engine

Lastly, National First Division has no sponsor but PSL is spending its money on the PSL teams only. NFD is the country core for soccer development but it has been neglected deliberately. Our football leaders are more concern about money than developing our football at the grassroots level. Its SAFA mandate to do that but with all the financial muscles, PSL should also look after the interest of the NFD teams. NFD is not an autonomous league but part of the PSL league structure.

*I stand for any correction if my thoughts are offline as this innovative concept is still a raw idea closed for modification. *

By Owen Mundalamo

Executive President: Football Food for Thought