DURBAN – Acting Premier Soccer League (PSL) chief executive officer Mato Madlala has ruled herself out of the running for the permanent job.
The PSL will announce the new CEO next month at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Madlala, who is also the owner of Absa Premiership outfit Lamontville Golden Arrows, has been acting as the CEO for two years now.
She took over in 2016 after Brand de Villiers tendered his resignation.
“I don’t want the position on a permanent basis. I’m too old now, plus I have my own team to look after. I can’t hold this position permanently.
“The league will make an announcement and they are close now. Let us wait for the process, and then we can talk about my time as the acting PSL CEO,” Madlala politely elaborated.
The PSL have struggled over the years to get a stable CEO, apart from Trevor Phillips and Kjetil Siem. Since its inception in 1996/97, only Phillips, Siem and Joe Ndlela have stayed in the position for a long period of time.
Phillips was the first CEO in between 1996 and 1998. He came back in 2002 and served as the CEO until 2007. Phillips was replaced by the Norwegian Siem in 2007, who stayed in the position until 2011.
Ndlela was fired in 2002 after two years at the helm.
Others who served as PSL CEO are Robin Petersen, Stanley Matthews and Zola Majavu. They all had one-year stints before resigning.
Cambridge Mokanyane and Madlala have served as acting CEOs.
“We will announce our new CEO at our AGM meeting in November. By the end of November, we will have the new CEO who will hold the position on a permanent basis,” PSL chairman Irvin Khoza said.
“Mato Madlala is overloaded. She has a team that she has to look after, she has a family and she also serves on other structures and boards. She has done a good job since taking over.
“I would love to her continue on a permanent basis, but it is all up to her. She has to decide whether she is fit to take the position permanently, and at the same time serve on other structures,” Khoza explained before Madlala confirmed that she is ruling herself out of the position.
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