PSL ready to hit ground running

The Premier Soccer League has concluded its schedule for the 2014-15 season, with the fixture list expected to be released before the end of the week.

PSL general manager Derek Blanckensee said the World Cup in Brazil that ended on Sunday, and clubs having to pick alternative home venues, led to the slight delay.

Last week, the league said the quarterfinals of the MTN8, essentially the season opener, will kick off in the first weekend of August and tickets were already on sale.

The PSL will follow a week later, with a clash between champions Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United likely on August 8.

"We had worked around a lot of logistics already and I would say the World Cup and probably just having to wait for the clubs to choose their alternative venues is what held us back a bit.

"Even when we felt we could make the fixtures public, we thought it was best to wait until after the World Cup," said Blanckensee.

He and his staff finished the fixture seven days before the World Cup opener between Brazil and Croatia.

Blanckensee said that although last season's scheduling nightmare could not be avoided, it would be easier this time around to plan for South African teams taking part in CAF tournaments after receiving dates in advance from Africa's football governing body.

Sundowns and runners-up Kaizer Chiefs will play in the African Champions League, while Orlando Pirates and Wits will feature in the Confederations Cup.

Both competitions begin in February, but could be delayed because of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next year.

"We've made provision for the Nations Cup because there will be a break from early in January until February 8. We plan to release the fixtures probably tomorrow [Tuesday] or later in the week," said Blanckensee yesterday.

PSL clubs will have played 17 matches instead of the usual 15, the halfway mark of the season, before a brief pause ahead of Afcon.

It all ends on May 16 with the Nedbank Cup final.