With the semifinals of the Coke Cup set to be decided this Sunday at the Stephen Reagan Sports Complex in Westridge, Mitchells Plain, time is running out for Safa Cape Town to resolve the dispute between the two under-18 sides, Rock-A-Fellas and Rebels Football Club.
The dispute arose when Rock-A-Fellas lost the cup tie by 0-1 to Rebels played at the Rooikrans Sport Complex in Grassy Park on 8 September 2024.
The former, who is the complainant in the case, alleges that Rebels (respondent) fielded two ineligible players in Ezile Gotyombe and Ayakha Mbedlashe.
Against Gotyombe it is alleged that he is a cup-tied player (playing for multiple clubs in one tournament), Rebels, Clover FC, City Bombers and Y2K amongst other clubs.
The complainant further alleges that Gotyombe played in the Coca-Cola Cup Round 32 for City Bombers/Y2K against Eagles Performance Academy (EPA).
Against Ayakha, the complainant alleges that the players used another player’s card.
Meanwhile the competition progressed with the dispute hanging for a couple of weeks now. The winner of the case will face Antalyaspor JPM Cape Town in the semi-final who have been waiting anxiously to hear the outcome of this case.
Rebels’ Thulani Njili said that he doesn’t know how they got here. ‘
“It is very disturbing, especially to players because they don’t know if they are in or out,” Njili told No Bones with Jones.
According to Rock-A-Fellas’ media officer Riaan Johnson (pictured) he cannot elaborate on the case as it is sub judice.
“All I can say is that we appeared in front of a DC who made the ruling and then the respondent (Rebels) chose to opt for arbitration,” Johnson told No Bones with Jones. “So, based on that the case is still ongoing,” he added.
Safa Cape Town’s General Secretary Reyaad Joseph confirmed that the matter is sitting with arbitration.
“The hearing is today (Thursday),” Joseph told our website.
