With a host of dynamic changes and new (league) additions on the cards for Safa Cape Town’s amateur league structures, one can only hope that it will truly be in the best interest of football and not further add to the already questionable formats.
One of the areas that need to be re-looked is that of teams that win the league and subsequently still have to conquer a playoff campaign to gain promotion; this sounds nothing more like a farce to be quite honest.
This obviously stems from the professional structures where a club that finished second last in the PSL, can still retain its status should it win the mini-playoffs with the other two teams that finished second and third respectively in the First Division.
In the past few seasons the Premier League club has always come out tops because of the better competition it has played in leading up to the play-offs.
Personally, I think this ruling is unfair and should be scrapped – the top two clubs must get automatic promotion, replacing the bottom two, it’s as simple as that.
Which brings me to the Third Division champions, Vasco da Gama, who are currently focussing on the playoffs for the Motsepe League before the spectacle kicks off in the Eden region in June.
Also, spare a thought for Vasco’s head coach, Andrew Pequeno (pictured), who is sitting with a conundrum. Besides the long wait of eight weeks for Pequeno and his troops, the experienced mentor also has the difficult task of telling some of his players that they won’t be in the group due to player restrictions at the playoffs which was set at 24 players per squad.
Pequeno explained that they have started their preparations with some friendly matches with more lined up in the coming weeks.
“You’ve got to keep the boys focussed, fit and sharp,” Pequeno told No Bones with Jones. “It’s a challenge but we have to do what we have to do. Most teams going to the playoffs are in the same boat. Some teams are only finishing next month – like (Cape) Winelands, I think on the 8 June.
“It is just that it’s very long from when the season ends until the playoffs, but I suppose there is nothing I can do about it as it was set by Safa WC. But joh! it’s a long way away but we have to do what we have to do, hey as we are preparing as best we can. I got all my players ready and focussed,” he added.
Pequeno is aware that he has homework and head-scratching to do in order to trim down his squad to the required amount for the playoffs.
Last season Junction Rovers was allowed 24 players and according to their coach, Chrisando De Weber, they barely made it as they only had a squad of 24 players last season.
“We are not allowed to take everyone and are still waiting on what the final squad numbers are and all that kind of stuff – and then only I can make decisions. “I’ve got 28 guys and it’s down to 25 as I’ve released a couple to play LFA football. So now from 25 players, I need to know how many.
Last year Junction was allowed to take 24, but some are telling me it’s 22, so I really don’t know until we get clarity from Safa WC. But it is very disappointing but it is the nature of the game. Those boys got us to win the league as well. So, we have to take guys who we think can get us through the playoffs now,” Pequeno concluded.
