PSL chairperson Irvin Khoza (Gallo)

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Johannesburg - Local soccer fans will have to pay R40, double the old price, to watch Premier Soccer League matches this season.

It is the first price increase by the PSL for eight years.

"We had no option but to increase prices as the cost of staging games by clubs has rocketed," PSL chairperson Irvin Khoza said in making the announcement on Friday.

"We managed to keep ticket prices at R20 for eight years. But due to increasing costs of the hiring stadiums, security and cleaning of venues we have to increase our entrance tickets.

"But we are still the cheapest and best entertainment for R40."

Khoza said that, after deductions, clubs had received little from the R20 paid in the past.

Said Khoza: "The PSL executive committee looked at the situation and it was found that it costs a club hundreds of thousands of rands to stage matches and clubs are not recouping that outlay."

His executive committee agreed to increase to ticket prices after consulting with the clubs and with the SA Soccer Supporters' Association.

Khoza said clubs could charge even more for certain matches.

"The R40 is only a minimum ticket price. Suite tickets will be more expensive and, depending on the match, a home team might have to pay a lot of money in hiring a certain stadium.

"It is up to clubs what to charge in that case. We, as the PSL, have laid down a minimum charge."

Khoza said that, in an attempt to encourage local talent, clubs would have to register five local development players in their squad in the near future.

"We are looking at allowing clubs to register say a maximum of 28 players plus five local development players. We need to boost the local content," he said.

Khoza also said that PSL clubs would soon be mandated to form youth academies and it was hoped all 16 would have a youth academy by next season.

He stressed that a PSL reserve league was not on the table.

"A reserve league is not a viable option at this stage."

Khoza said the league was worried about the problem of getting new work permits and renewing old work permits for foreign-born players.

"I do not know if the problem lies with the department of sport or home affairs. We have written to department of sport and the [director-general] to assist us as some of our clubs are having serious problem in getting work permits," he said.