The Norwegian will be replacing Trevor Phillips as the man who will be dealing with the day to day running of the league.

Siem who was born in Western Norway in a rural village close to the city of Alesund, had his work permit approved by Department of Home Affairs on Tuesday and can now began his job as the leagues CEO.

Siem will officially take up office next Monday and in the meantime he will have the weekend to think about his new role, as the father of four will have his work cut out for him in trying to emulate the legacy left by his predecessor Trevor Phillips.

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Dr Khoza said that Siem came with a number of good references from within the global football community and that his track record down the years proves that he is the right man to lead the PSL to further success over the next couple of years.

Khoza said of Siem “In Kjetil Siem we have a highly qualified and well experienced man whose vast experience in working within the media sectors as well as in football club and league management in Norway will give him an added edge for this job”.

Khoza is confident that Kjitel will do just as sterling a job as Phillips did as he further added “we are behind Kjitel and will support him in his task to continue further growing the PSL we ask the media to work with him and give him time to settle in to his new job”.

Siem looking ahead

Siem might be new to South African football fans but he is no stranger to South Africa having visited the country on 15 occasions prior to him landing the plush job as the CEO of the league.

Siem worked at grass roots level in South African football as he once headed up a project run by the international society for the Red Cross in South Africa called the Football Against Crime Programme.

He feels that having this understanding of the culture of the country and the love of football that runs through the veins of the people will help him be more effective at his job. As he explained “ Having been to South Africa and worked in a number of socially marginalized communities in the country, I have an understanding of the passion that the people have for football in South Africa. Furthermore my past experiences in South Africa have allowed for me to gain deeper insight into the kind of difference that soccer can make in peoples lives”.

Phillips Legacy

When asked whether he will be able to continue with the work and fill the legacy left by the retired Phillips, Siem was quick to point out the following facts.

“Trevor did a wonderful job at the PSL and all I can do is try to compliment the excellent work that he did which he was in charge here”. Siem mentioned a number of areas where he felt he could add further value to the league, saying, “there is a lot of room for us to further enhance our merchandising as well as various media opportunities that exist for us and over the next few years hopefully we can make these two areas financially profitable ones for the league”.

Brief Kjetil P Siem Profile

• Sports journalist at Norway's largest "quality) (broadsheet) newspaper for five years.


• One year as a journalist in the news department of the same newspaper.


• Six years as a sports reporter at TV2, Norway's largest commercial broadcaster.


• Followed by two years founding and building up an Internet-based company.


• Returned to TV2 for approximately two years as a project manager in charge of large events.


• One year as commercial director for Valarenga and then CEO for three years.


• League merits at Valarenga: Second, 2004. Champions, 2005.


• One year as CEO of the Norwegian League.