Elsies River United, one of the debutants at the Bayhill Premier Cup will undoubtedly have learnt valuable lessons – on and off the field.
The newbies – who were drawn in Group E with the University of Pretoria, SSS Football Academy and Junction Rovers – became one of the first casualties following two losses from their first two games against SSS Academy and the University of Pretoria.
However, It is the defeat against the latter that has got the tongues wagging on day two of the Easter spectacle at the Erica Park Sports Complex in Belhar. The team from Elsies were told in no uncertain terms that they would have to pull up their socks in this competition.
Elsies, who was featured as the away team against the University of Pretoria lost the match by default because their socks clashed with that of the visitors from Pretoria.
It must be noted that it is also the first time in the decorated history of the event that a club has lost a match in this manner. But as per the rules of the competition, the away team is obliged to have an extra kit just in case there is a clash of colours.
This raised a number of questions amongst the attendees as to who was to blame and if fair play and common sense should not have prevailed. It was only when the teams took to the pitch that it was noticed that both teams were wearing red socks.
This leaves the question as to whether the necessary pre-match checks were not done in the dressing room.
Elsies’ coach John Goliath opened up to No Bones with Jones about their unfortunate situation: “I am very perturbed and so are our players as they were looking forward to their second game and were pumped up to turn around our fortune in the tournament,” Goliath explained.
“They were pumped up, you know. What saddens me is the fact that during our life skills workshop they preached to the players that the tournament is not about winning or losing. But look what they have done now.
“We informed the organisers that one of our coaches who had the extra pair of socks was held up at the gate as they were searching the cars. Even SSS Academy was willing to give us their extra pair of socks so that the game could proceed.
“All I know is that PJ Williams informed the officials that there is no grace period and the game must be blown off. It is really a bitter pill for us to swallow,” a dejected Goliath added.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the referees Abdul Barsit Ebrahim said that what happened was really unfortunate, but he is not in a position to comment on the matter.
“Until I get the official report only then will I be able to supply you with further comments,” Ebrahim told No Bones with Jones.
The tournament director Rayaan Alie said that at the moment there was no comment from the organisers side on the matter.
“I still have to go through reports,” Alie added.
One can only but wonder if this had been one of the bigger teams, especially one of the Academies or a PSL club, if the organisers would have taken the same approach – or would they just have put a sock in it and moved on.
Results after Day 2:
Amalawus FC 1, Rebels FC 1
Bayhill United 0, Clover FC 0
Safa CT Academy 2, Ubuntu Academy 1
Greenwood Athletic 1, Rygersdal FC 2
Leeds 1, FN Rangers 2
Westridge FC 0, Cape Town City 5
Virginia Sport Academy 1, Young Bafana Academy 1
Junction Rovers 1, SSS Academy 1
Cape Town Spurs 5, Velocity Academy 0
University of Pretoria vs Elsies River United (University of Pretoria win by default)
Grassy Park United 6, Windhoek Gymnasium 0
Hungry Lions 0, FC Real SA 0
Mamelodi Sundowns 3, Celtic United Academy 0
FC Porto 3, Hanover Park FC 2
Everton FC 2, Shayamoya Academy 0
Stellenbosch FC 2, Highlands Park 0
