Irvin Khoza (File)

Johannesburg - Fans will pay more to watch Premier Soccer League matches this season.

This was announced by PSL chairperson Irvin Khoza after a PSL Board of Governors meeting in Sandton on Thursday.

And the PSL boss is confident of a bumper season coming on the heels of South Africa hosting one of the most successful World Cup finals in history.

"We want to maintain the spirit of the World Cup," said Khoza.

"But supporters have been paying R20 to attend our games for the past eight years. Costs have increased in that period. For example it costs a club R500 000 just to stage a PSL match. We have no option but to increase our prices. It is always unfortunate when one has to make increases but there is no way we can continue to charge R20 for 90 minutes of high quality entertainment any longer."

Although Khoza could not give a figure it is likely that fans will have to pay R40 to attend PSL matches this season.

The PSL are charging between R50 and R100 for next Saturday’s Telkom Charity Cup.

"We have already sold 56 000 tickets for the event even before we know which four PSL clubs will be competing," said Khoza.

"That is amazing and shows that if we provide top class entertainment the market is there."

The league are expected to ratify increases at the PSL executive meeting before the new Absa Premiership kicks off at the end of August.

The PSL also signed an agreement with the South African Players Union agreeing to a minimum wage and basic rights for players.

"The clubs have agreed to look after players rights," said Khoza. "It is an important and a big step forward for soccer in our country."

The PSL were praised by Cosatu for the unity shown during the World Cup. "Cosatu sent us a letter congratulating us on the unity and spirit during the World Cup finals and urged us to maintain this positive mood," said Khoza.

Khoza said the PSL were also keen to benefit from the new stadiums built for the World Cup. But he said that he could not force clubs to utilise the new stadiums in Nelspruit, Polokwane, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Durban purpose build for the global showpiece.

"We as the PSL do not know what agreements and conditions have been entered into by stadiums and management companies. We would like to encourage clubs to use the new facilities but cannot force clubs into playing in venues before we have all the details at our disposal," he said.

The controversial issue surrounding the South African Football Association and the disputed annual general meeting held last September where Khoza was pipped by Kirstin Nematandani as Safa president was again put on hold.

Safa implemented new changes to their constitution in June.

"We cannot comment until SAFA furnish us with details and we get clarity," said Khoza.

The First Division will kick-off on September 11.