Hanover Park FC Chairman Rieduwaan Anthony (pictured) has described the ‘unfavourable outcome’ in the club’s arbitration case with Zizwe United as a” sad day” for football when this decision was made public by the South African Football Association on Monday.
Anthony’s frustration stems from the fact that his ABC Motsepe League outfit will now have to replay its Western Cape playoff final against Zizwe after an arbitration by the South African Football Association ruled in favour of Zizwe.
The Hanover Park outfit had beaten the team from Gugulethu in the playoff final recently before Zizwe yet again sought legal intervention.
For the record, this is not Zizwe’s first or second legal battle when it comes to the contestation of a league champion. Be that as it may, Zizwe, who is contesting a sixth playoff final, will now have a second bite of the cherry within sevendays – as ruled by the arbitration – to determine the Western Cape ABC Motsepe League winners with the winner representing the province at the National First Division playoffs.
Safa further added that Mr Luvuyo Pupuma will appoint the referees, if he can’t, SAFA National will do so as governed by clause 41.6 of its Uniform Rules.
SAFA Western Cape was also ordered to pay the costs.
Anthony is understandably gutted with the outcome and has cleared his chest. The Hanover Park FC boss slammed the ruling as a “travesty”.
“This is a bitter pill to swallow,” Anthony dejectedly said to No Bones with Jones. “It’s the first time in history you have a decision overturned in a manner like this and it’s like they are rewriting the rules.
“Safa is an independent body that is governed by their own statutes so I can’t understand the decision. We’ve just been brushed aside and given the middle finger…the marginalisation of coloured teams is happening way too frequently.
“I have so many things to say and a lot of emotion going through me but it’s in my best interest to keep myself in check. I have to think about my well-being as well. We also signed an agreement whereby we will accept the arbitrator’s decision as final so we have to live by this, you know.”
Anthony revealed what is even more embarrassing is the fact that the club went on a celebration parade within their community after the playoff success… what message are we sending out to the kids who aspire to be a footballer one day?
“What I also can’t understand is that our name is in the hat by Safa and according to us, it was Hanover Park FC that was already accepted as the winner for the playoffs. But now we’ll have to do it all over again.
“Just imagine how challenging it must be for those players to repeat their efforts? They are also obviously questioning their fairness, you know. But it is what it is, we as Hanover Park shall unite and go again as God knows best,” Anthony concluded.
Zizwe, who were given two days to respond, waived their right of reply on this matter.
Meanwhile, Safa WC Chairperson Tankiso Modipa confirmed that they are still engaging with the necessary stakeholders. “We are still busy with our legal team, that’s all I am prepared to say, nothing much,” Modipa concluded.
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY 4TH MOMENT
One Response
Thank you for the soccer updates . What’s happening at Bothasig as more than 15 of their First – and Reserve Teams have left the club for other clubs. Surely the club needs to do some introspection as to what the core issues are at the club.