Safa backtrack in Wits, SuperSport row

The South African Football Association say they will no longer haul Bidvest Wits and SuperSport United before a Disciplinary Committee over the release of players for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in South Korea.

READ: SuperSport played well – Mokoena

Safa head of communications Dominic Chimhavi said on Wednesday that the association had now spoken to both clubs and that the matter was being dealt with “offline,” adding that the two parties had “almost found each other”.

Wits’ Reeve Frosler and Phakamani Mahlambi, along with SuperSport’s Teboho Mokoena have been called up by Amajita coach Thabo Senong for the Under-20 World Cup, which starts on May 20.

But the Clever Boys and Matsatsantsa are reluctant to release these regulars in their team while they are fighting for domestic honours. Wits are top of the Absa Premiership, while SuperSport are in the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup.

Safa issued a strongly worded statement on Tuesday criticising both Wits and SuperSport.

“We have received letters from Bidvest Wits FC and Supersport United FC in which they have advised certain players against honouring a national call-up,” read the statement.

“The reasons advanced by both Bidvest Wits FC and Supersport United are ill-advised, do not serve the national interest and go against SAFA Statutes that clubs are obliged to release the players to the national team …

“…We shall convene an urgent tribunal, seek the immediate suspension of the players in question and seek the severest penalty against all clubs that refuse to release players for the national team.”

It now, however, seems that a more amicalbe solution is close to being found, though Chimhavi admitted that Frosler, Mahlambi and Mokoena may not leave the country with the rest of the Amajita squad later on Wednesday.

“If they (Frosler, Mahlambi and Mokoena) don’t leave today, there will be a provision (made),” he added.