THOHOYANDOU – The names, Ria Stars and Free State Stars, have been totally removed from the Premier Soccer League books. This follows the decision by the PSL board of Governors to cut the league from 18 to 16 clubs by offering R8 million to each of the two clubs that were willing to vanish from the football industry.

Although five clubs had shown interest in the offer, the league had to choose the two that had indicated to them that it would be difficult for them to continue with the journey, due to their current financial position.

Monday saw the Deputy President of the South African Football Association (SAFA), Mr Irvin Khoza, announcing that the two Stars are to leave the soccer circles forever.

During an interview with Mirror shortly after the announcement of the clubs that had accepted the offer, the Managing Director of Ria Stars, Mrs Ria Ledwaba, stated that they were running the club at a loss. According to her, the club has been in the red for years and the deficit was increasing with time.

She stated that it is difficult to run a professional football club without a sponsorship. She extended her apology to the supporters of the club for leaving them in the cold. She stated that they will sell the players to the other interested clubs.

"We will continue to pay the players who might not be bought their monthly salaries until their contracts with us expire," she said.

The chairman of Free State Stars, Mr Mike Mokoena, stated that he was happy with the PSL offer, saying he will never again take a risk of running a professional football club without sponsorship.

The downsizing of the number of clubs has forced the league to postpone the kick-off for the league activities from this weekend to next weekend, 9 to 11 August. Ria Stars would have been playing the newly promoted African Wanderers in Durban on Sunday, while Free State Stars were supposed to host Kaizer Chiefs.

The rest of the postponed fixtures are Sundowns Football Club vs Black Leopards, Moroka Swallows vs Ajax Cape Town, Dynamos vs Supersport United, Jomo Cosmos vs Wits University, Orlando Pirates vs Hellenic, Manning Rangers vs Golden Arrows and Santos vs Bush Bucks.