Phillips: the man for a tough job
Brad Morgan
16 October 2002
Chief Executive Officer of the country's Premier Soccer League has not been a position to envy, not since it was held by the PSL’s first CEO, Trevor Phillips. Under the leadership of the Englishman the league secured substantial sponsorships and credibility, but since his departure in 1998 it has been anything but smooth sailing for professional soccer in South Africa.
Now the man with the no-nonsense reputation is back. Already, the news of Phillips’ re-appointment, effective 1 November, is being hailed as a boost for South Africa’s bid to host the World Cup in 2010 - and again that word, "credibility", is the one that crops up when his name is mentioned.
Leadership vacuum, league chaos
After Phillips' departure in 1998, Joe Ndhlela took over the job, despite accusations of corruption in his previous post as head of transport parastatal Transnet. He was fired by the PSL after failing to get proper authorisation
for spending. What did he do wrong? He paid out a whopping R700 000 for designer suits for players! Ndhlela was subsequently found guilty of fraud from the time when he was in charge of Transnet, and he is currently appealing a three-year jail sentence as a result.
Doctor Robin Peterson took over from Ndhlela, but his short reign will be best remembered for the tragedy that occurred at Ellis Park on 11 April 2001 at a match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. At an overcrowded stadium 43 people lost their lives and 158 others were injured.
Fingers were pointed in all directions as to who was responsible for the disaster, and Peterson clearly suffered greatly under the weight of this burden. Distrust on the PSL executive built up, and eventually Peterson resigned. Since his resignation almost a year ago the PSL has been without a CEO.
Professor Mandla Mchunu, former head of the Independent Electoral Commission, was appointed non-executive chairman of the PSL
and tasked with putting mechanisms in place for the functioning of the league.
However, Mchunu's time in charge was hampered by time he spent away from the job overseeing elections in Nigeria, and by unhappiness from various quarters over the findings of a Mchunu-appointed team designed to improve the running of the league.
Mchunu resigned in September 2002, having been absent from his office since May, when he took leave to oversee the Nigerian elections, and amid unproven allegations that his expenses were costing the league R500 000 a month.
After Mchunu's departure, Orlando Pirates boss Irvin Khoza was appointed interim PSL chairman.
The effect of the absence of strong leadership on the PSL could not be clearer.
On 15 October 2002, the PSL league standings revealed that two teams had played seven matches, two had played six matches, four had played five matches, five had played four matches, two had played three matches, and one team, Orlando Pirates,
had played not a single match.
Pity the title challenge of the Soweto giants when they end up having to play three matches a week!
'SA soccer needs a strong leader'
Afzal Khan, recognised as one of the country’s finest club administrators and the man in charge of both Manning Rangers and Santos when they won the PSL title, believes that South African soccer needs a strong leader. The administration and fixtures are the worst they have ever been, but, says Khan, Phillips will not allow this to continue.
In an interview with The Sunday Times (13 October 2002), Phillips made clear what he saw as his job: “I will not worry myself about Safa [the SA Football Association] and the international teams. I am not interested in the politics either. I just want to do my job, with a direct and applied approach.”
And Phillips was direct in his solution to the fixture problems: “The solution to the fixture chaos is simple – stick to the
Fifa calendar for international fixtures [friendlies and official qualifiers]”.
The former commercial director of the English Football Association says he would not have returned as head of the PSL if he had been granted only limited control of the running of the league. Phillips says he needs to make positive changes without obstructions being placed in his way.
Players number one
The re-appointment of Phillips to the CEO position is also good news for professional players. When he was previously in charge of the league he supported the formation of a players’ union, as well as a minimum wage.
“It’s not even a question that players are the prime assets of the sport”, he told The Sunday Times. “Fans do not pay to see Phillips, Kaizer [Motaung], Irvin [Khoza] or Natasia [Tshiclas]. They just want to enjoy the performances of their favourite players.”
Phillips, it is clear, also recognises the importance of the fans in the game.
“My best memory of South Africa was the genuine enthusiasm of the soccer fans. I come from a cynical English background, so I was impressed by the long-suffering love for the game.”
Another area that needs attention, he believes, is the relationship between the SA Football Association and the PSL. He says the two organisations need to work together to ensure the smooth running of soccer in the country.
Other concerns awaiting Phillips when he takes up office on 1 November include the appointment of a chief of security, a public relations officer and a new chairman of the PSL's board of governors.
When everything is weighed up, Phillips looks the part because people believe in him - including the sponsors, the government, the players and the fans.
Well-known soccer administrator and the head of South Africa’s 2010 World Cup bid committee, Danny Jordaan, says many of the country’s soccer problems have been as a result of there not being a person in charge of
the PSL full-time. A PSL that works will improve the perception the rest of the world has of South African soccer. Phillips, Jordaan feels, is the man to get the league working.
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