Safa Western Cape President Tankiso Modipa (pictured) has ‘cleared up’ claims of alleged foul play regarding the selection of their new ABC Motsepe League representative, Salim United.
“I am telling you it is not the truth,” Modipa told our No Bones with Jones. “I am a man of integrity. I am straight-forward and what you see is what you get. I am not beating around the bush.
“This happened as soon as the province got approval from Safa National’s Competitions Committee. We called an emergency committee meeting in Overberg last week Wednesday where the members elaborated on the matter. The criteria were formulated already – even before we got approval…
“When the proposal was given the thumbs up to be sent to the Competition Committee on national level there were already set criteria. That was not even before the playoffs. We didn’t even know who was going to win the league in the Overberg. Now, fast forward to the emergency meeting that we had with the Competition Committee. The criteria were then reiterated to the clubs to say first of all the clubs should be owned in the Overberg,” Modipa further explained.
“And must be an owned club from Safa Overberg. That is the first criteria. Number two was that clubs should have all the structures playing in our leagues – from under 15, or if you don’t have under 15’s, then under 13’s. Then your under-17’s and then also the Women’s team you must have as a club and that was the second criteria that was set. The third criteria was that the clubs should have played and complied with all the competition rules within the region.
“So those are the criteria that we have set and if the clubs have done that it should have won one of the local competitions and those that comply. The fourth part that was added was it must be a winner of the Nedbank Cup which is played by everyone or the winner of the Easter tournament, which is a must to participate in for the region. This was the criteria for all the clubs in the Overberg.
“So, that club is the one that goes up. After the criteria were set, the first one which is very important – you can’t go beyond that – is the statuses and the injustices that were spoken about at PEC level, it was to ensure that the rural regions have also an opportunity to compete and given equal opportunities for all kids to play It is now to defeat the cause if the club is owned within the region. Now Bazuka says they won the league and were supposed to represent us. First of all Bazuka does not comply because they come from Strand.
“We have five clubs from other regions – the first one is Bazuka, Standards, then we have Spain Football Academy, then we have Internacional Football Club and then we have FC Khayelitsha. These are five clubs that are guest clubs and guest players that we requested to come and participate as we have created a platform for them. To get quicker to the other levels and also to raise the standard of football. As our regions always struggle against the other regions.
“So, we have allocated them a spot and we allowed them to buy a status within our region to participate and improve the standard of football in our region. Now Bazuka won the Regional playoffs and they went all the way to Plettenberg Bay. They represented us. Bazuka, first of all, is not from our region and secondly went to the playoffs and lost. Who said that they must represent Overberg for the spot that has nothing to do with the playoffs or who won the League?
“So, this is what’s happening – there are no favours done for anyone, every club had to comply with the criteria that were used and set long before we knew who was going to win the league. All clubs were explained exactly how things will work,” Modipa concluded.
