SEDIBENG.- It seems as if the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.
The same can be said about South African Football Association (SAFA) Sedibeng. For the past month, Sedibeng Ster Sport has been reporting about the Inter Regional Play-Offs. The latest development is that the SAFA Sedibeng Regional Leagues Coordinator Mandla Dipanyekga wrote the letter to inform all the stakeholders that the two Lesedi Local Municipality teams will automatically be promoted to the Regional Men Hollywood.
This was after Emfuleni Local Football Association and Midvaal Local Football Association were found guilty for registering players outside the window period. After this letter, SAFA Sedibeng President Solly Mkhabela then wrote another letter that challenged Dipanyekga’s decision to kick out these two LFAs from participating in the play-offs. Mkhabela’s letter read as follow “I hereby withdraw the letter issued by Regional Coordinator which cancelled the play-offs, the play-offs will continue on August 31 at Ratanda Stadium.”
The question that Zakes’ Sports Corner is asking itself – between the two letters which one need to be considered? The president or letter or the Regional Coordinator’s letter? Zakes’ Sport Corner foresee another court battle looming in our local football once again. There are many questions to be answered regarding this matter. Point in case, is the President right to overrule the Regional’ Coordinator’s decisions? Is this not interference taking into consideration that the two LFAs registered the players outside window period?
To make matters worse, the chairman of Midvaal Local Football Association is the SAFA Sedibeng Deputy President. In fact, he is Mkhabela’s deputy and one way or the other the decision was influenced by the two’s relationship. Zakes’ Sports Corner just thinking out loud! However, I stand to be corrected! For now Zakes’ Sports Corner will watch and see when this drama unfolds!