Majavu quits over Iron Duke's tight fist

The Premier Soccer League's first black CEO has quit his post after just two-and-a-half months following his bosses' refusal to allow him to assemble his own team.

Zola Majavu, who replaced Norwegian Kjetil Siem in August, wanted permission to hire the chief operations officer, chief financial officer and the head of legal on behalf of the organisation.

But the league's executive committee, headed by chairman Irvin Khoza, blocked the move since it would mean a "change of policy" for one of Africa's biggest football leagues.

Majavu was named as CEO in June, completing the long search for a black boss.

"The executive committee met on October 11 and reaffirmed their position on the league's policy, that only they are granted the powers to appoint senior management, including the COO, CFO and head of legal," said Khoza yesterday.

"But Mr Majavu felt he would betray his fundamental principles if he agreed to this. So we agreed to part ways amicably."

Cambridge Mokonyane, who was named as the league's chief operations officer on the same day as Majavu in June, has been appointed as acting CEO.

"It was difficult for us to agree to change the rules, which Mr Majavu felt strongly about," said Khoza.

"That would have meant changing our whole governance and the league policy, giving power to an individual. We couldn't concede to that as we would compromise our policy."

Majavu is known to be ambitious and in all likelihood wanted to appoint his own crew.

Khoza said, by virtue of being the league CEO, Majavu was an executive member.

This means he had some form of "power" to influence decisions on who to employ, but ultimately the final decision was up to the board of governors. And, more importantly, it is the chairman's call.

Majavu has a high-profile case this week, in which he is representing the 16-year-old accused in the murder of AWB leader Eugene Terre Blanche.

"There are no permanent relationships in life and I must just accept this and move on," is all Majavu would say when approached for comment.

In November last year, Khoza tasked club owners Kaizer Motaung (Chiefs), John Comitis (Ajax) and Mato Madlala (Arrows) with finding an "African" CEO.

However, yesterday Khoza suggested they would be open to employing the best candidate, regardless of colour. He did not give a timeline regarding the appointment of a full-time CEO.