This
is an important milestone since the repositioning of the PSL into a fully
professional league in 1996. In the eighteen years, the PSL has managed to
secure the copyright of its match content, the only league with these rights in
the world. Only FIFA has copyright of its match content.
The
PSL pay equal monthly grants to its affiliate club. This has significantly
improved the competitiveness of the clubs in the PSL to the extent that no one
club has managed to dominate the league and cup competitions.
Dr
Khoza said, “I am pleased that we have achieved yet another feat in the
eighteen years of our professional existence. We are in the content business.
The ownership and protection of our content is therefore invaluable. It helps
us secure our income streams at a time when there is an explosion in the media
and communications landscape that could easily undermine our rights”.
“I
would like to thank the Chairman of Kaizer Chiefs, my fellow PSL Executive
Committee member and the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr Motaung, for his
steadfast commitment. We set out at the beginning to build a foundation of a
sustainable league that would outlive its founders. His wisdom and recognition
of the added responsibility market leaders have to sustain an industry is
laudable.
The
case was presented to the South Gauteng High Court by Advocate Cedric Puckrin.
In his judgment, the honourable Judge Kgomo commended the PSL for the
professional presentation and witnesses. This has been a long journey. The
first letter registering the PSL’s displeasure on the matter was sent to
Gidani, the lottery operator at the time, in 2007.
Roger
Wakefield of law firm Werkmans, the lead attorney on this case, said, “I am
absolutely thrilled on the result which we always knew was the correct one. The
PSL has won and justice has been done.”
