SEDIBENG – The South African Football Association (SAFA) Sedibeng Inter-Regional Play-offs have once again been postponed.
This was confirmed to Sedibeng Ster Sport by the Emfuleni Local Football Association (ELFA) competitions convener, Oupa Tladinyana. Sedibeng Ster Sport previously reported that it was postponed due to the unavailability of a venue. The play-offs were supposed to take place over the weekend but was postponed again after SAFA Sedibeng failed to agree about the terms and conditions with the management of the facility in Heidelberg.
Apparently, the owners of the facility wanted SAFA to pay a certain amount, including the entrance for the soccer fans. Tladinyana told Sedibeng Ster Sport that the play-offs will now take place at Ratanda Stadium in Heidelberg on August 3-4. However, the stadium is not in the right condition to host such important games as it is hard surface soccer ground.
“We had no choice but to move the play-offs there because we couldn’t agree with Army Sports Ground management. They want people to pay to watch the games and we thought it was better to take the games to Ratanda Stadium despite the hard surface. I know it is frustrating for the teams to keep on postponing the play-offs, but it was beyond our control,” said Tladinyane.
The play-offs will decide the two teams that will be promoted to the SAFA Sedibeng Hollywood Regional Men League for the 2024/25 season.