At least, South African soccer is doing something. These are not words we expected, a few weeks ago, that we would be writing following the annus horribilis in our nation's football of 2011.

Having entered the year in high spirits and with even higher hopes after the huge success of the 2010 World Cup, South African soccer ended it in humiliation and disgrace. The image of Bafana players dancing with joy on a touchline in Nelspruit under the misapprehension of a triumph that was really a disaster will linger for a long time.

But at least our soccer mandarins have acknowledged that there is a crisis and have come up with a plan to resolve it.

Yesterday, in a rare show of soccer unity, the SA Football Association and the Premier Soccer League revealed that they would approach the Confederation of African Football with a view to reviewing the playing calendar.

When it comes to a playing calendar, South Africa and Africa are on different wavelengths. South Africa threw in its lot with Europe some years ago. This was done to enable Bafana Bafana to call up Europe-based players for internationals more easily.

Though fewer South Africans now play in Europe, that could change quickly. Europe, and especially England and Spain, is, after all, where the big money is in football and a player's lifespan is depressingly short.

The joint Safa-PSL bid will attempt to persuade Africa to fall in line with Europe. For obvious historical reasons, that won't be easy. But, much as the confederation may resent it and see it as kowtowing to Europe, it makes footballing sense.

Africa's footballing sons will be the ones to benefit. They will no longer need to agonise over club or country when the call comes to play in national colours. It will lead to a better deal all around.

May South Africa's bid prevail, just this once. We will be doing African football a great service.