The very same “beautiful game,” football, which we all proclaim to love unequivocally, is also the very same passion that divides the amateur football scene.
In some cases, it’s perhaps justified, while others remain questionable! Be that as it may, unfortunately for the Mother body Safa Cape Town, the buck ultimately stops with them.
And whatever lies on their (administration) doorstep, needs to be resolved with great urgency and efficiency. But this is where the problem lies… there are so many issues in the melting pot that the region has its hands full – which makes it almost impossible to focus mainly on football matters. All the focus now seems to be going to behind- the- scenes affairs which stifles the actual football affairs.
There have been so many pleasant revelations made recently regarding the future of amateur football but when will it come to fruition as the politics continuously take centre stage…
Remember, the Goalgate scandal still needs to be resolved and is back on the roll in the coming days, along with the Cape District Football Association (CDFA) battle.
Not to mention the ripple effect it’s having on the Hollywoodbets Third Division campaign following affiliate teams such as Greenwood Athletic and Ocean View having been docked six points each due to the legal battle between Safa CT and the CDFA.
This throws a spanner in the works and opens the door for last-placed FC Hout Bay (21 points), who have a better goal difference over Ocean View (second from last), as well as Woodlands United in 16th position.
So, should Crystal Palace, coached by Bradley August and Goodwin Lewis, beat Woodlands in Mitchells Plain, Ocean View not picking up any points and FC Hout Bay beat Wanderers FC in Langa on Saturday, then they could possibly pull off a Houdini act.
There is also the notion that should newly crowned Third Division champion Vasco da Gama win the playoffs then perhaps only the bottom two will get relegated and not three providing another glimmer of hope.
Bear in mind all this is on the cards while options of a two-stream proposal are also being looked at with various LFA’s having been enlightened on this matter which entails: Two streams of 18 teams scheduled for the 2024/’25 season.
With one stream already in place, a second one of 18 teams will be made up from the LFA playoff campaign. This playoffs will consist of 8 groups of four with the winner of the group and runner-up already qualifying for the new second stream.
Then, two or four best third-placed teams to be promoted to the second stream which will run concurrently with the other stream. The top four of each stream will play out to determine a champion as well as for the benefit of the prize monies.
There are two scenarios that have been presented with the first option being a “no relegation” persisting with the status quo and considering relegation from the ABC Motsepe League.
The second one on the cards is obviously “the relegation” way with the two teams being relegated from the current 2023/’24 season as per uniform rules which means that the two (LFA) playoff finalists automatically qualify for the Third Division next season along with four best third placed teams as well.
Relegation from the Motsepe League is also under consideration.
Given all this on Safa’s plate, along with its in-house strategies, it once again shows that Safa CT has bitten off way more than it can chew – to say the least.
Bear in mind that the Motsepe League playoffs are also on the horizon and again their attention will be shifted with other pertinent issues being pushed to the side – and so it goes – hence the situation is currently what it is.
But hey, hats off to those in it to make a genuine (football) contribution and have no other motives other than developing the game from grassroots level and bringing meaningful change.
But as the saying goes: Football shall be played!
