Safa scraps the 2020 season of the Sasol Women’s League
JOBURG – The February 6 proposed starting date of the new 2021 season of the Sasol Women's League quickly hits a snag.
The South African Football Association (Safa) has finally succumbed to calls from the various clubs that ply their trade in the Sasol Women’s League to scrap the Covid-19-hit season.
In a communique to the clubs, Victor Raletjena, who heads the Competitions Department of Safa, acknowledged the lack of communication regarding the status of the 2020 Sasol League but affirmed the cancellation of the league this year.
“It has become a common cause that it was no longer feasible to continue the 2020 season that was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and that the new 2021 season is hereby scheduled to kick off on 6 February next year,” Raletjena said in a communique.
But that date has met a stumbling block, as most universities that have the majority of teams in the league indicated it would not be feasible for them to start the new league then, as most of the varsities would either be writing examinations or closed to allow for the reopening of the new calendar year.
North-West University has already called on Safa to reconsider the date of 6 February, saying the varsities were planning to have their examinations in January and February and those that might finish early would have closed for a short break.
“If we go ahead with that date, it might result in a string of postponements of a number of the games, thereby disrupting the smooth flow and running of the league,” the North-West University said in reply to Raletjena’s proposal. The varsity proposed 5 March as a more feasible date to start the new league.
Founder of Bluebirds Ladies Football Club in Alexandra and also secretary-general of the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association, Malvin Khumalo was among some of the clubs that had already urged Safa to consider scrapping the 2020 season, which had only seen three games played when the lockdown was announced in March.
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