Marketing guru Happy Ntshingila has emerged as a hot favourite to take over as the new Premier Soccer League chief executive officer after the 2010 World Cup.

Sowetan has reliably learnt the two parties have been having exploratory discussions as the position will become vacant when Kjetil Siem’s contract ends at the end of the 2009-2010 soccer season.

When the PSL unveiled Siem, the former Norwegian sports journalist two seasons ago, chairman Irvin Khoza made it clear that the person to take over the baton after 2010 will be a black South African.

“ Mr Ntshingila is one of the candidates for the position.

“He is one of the people we spoke to for the job.”

Approached for comment, Ntshingila sounded surprised before saying “it’s news to me, I have not been approached”.

Ntshingila is the Absa Group executive director in charge of marketing and public affairs.