Safa Cape Town president Bennett Bailey has emphasized that they will not entertain “breakaways” adding that there are ”dangers of a bun fight” at Sunday’s meeting when the Mitchells Plain LFA (MPLFA) will deliver its verdict on the ”unconstitutional move by some of its rebel members.”
It is alleged that the move was initiated by FC Tafelzucht’s Kenny Hendricks, who has subsequently been suspended, along with others such as Ismail Du Toit (Westridge FC), Dion Warner (Cedar Park), Granville Solomons (Red Rovers), Nino Solomons, (Rock-A-fellas) and Gerald Cookson (Kenpark United).
The Cape Town soccer boss and deputy president of Safa National had to cut short his speech at the launch of the Spar Mookrey Group Rygate LFA Cubs Festival in Rylands on Monday to rush through to a meeting in Westridge, Mitchells Plain.
The ‘Buffalo’, as Bailey is referred to in opposition camps, addressed the representatives of the MPLFA and stressed that this action is nothing less than a total act of disrepute towards MPLFA, with its main goal to derail the work of the Mitchells Plain soccer body.
The representatives of the clubs present were issued with a fact-finding report containing evidence to prove this drastic move. The onus is now on the respective clubs to deal with its members who were in breach and come up with recommendations on the appropriate sanctions to be imposed by the MPLFA.
The Cape Town soccer boss reminded the club reps of the role of their executive – which is to run the organisation in their absence when they are not functioning.
“So, when they heard, they convened, they interviewed and there is quite a good report and a very straightforward report which deals with many pointers,” said Bailey.
“And it should be allowed to ventilate where it should be ventilated. Now the council wants to know what happened and now you need to give that report. But what is important is that you have elected this executive and you have confidence in this executive – I hope so!
“So, they are giving you a report now. This is now the report. It is not uhh, what is that word…it is cold! It is very cold. This is the report. This is what happened. It has not been, uhm, sanitised by them and you have been tested.
“There is only one pointer – and that is why I say it may be the language: because what you explained and what they explained is fundamentally different, you see. So, that is why I said it is the English used . . .
“The danger that you sit with on Sunday is that it might be a bun fight, not for what is in here (report). Maybe something else will be discussed. And maybe some of you are interested in something else instead of what is in here (report). Maybe there is underlying stuff that is not in here and that can also be very dangerous or unhealthy for the meeting on Sunday.
“So, I’m asking that you all, and don’t get me wrong, deal with it in a mature way. So, other issues might come out and you must deal with that in a mature way. So then at times when reports like this are tabled, it is normally when the chair asks everyone to participate, but it doesn’t look like we have reached that stage yet, but we might have to get to that after Sunday’s meeting because you want to get to the bottom and this might really help us,” Bailey further explained.
Bailey, who is currently serving a second term, highlighted the positive growth since the MPLFA’s executive was elected two years ago, when its membership stood at between 4000 and 5000 members.
“Last year (2022) it went up to 6000 and increased by 1600 (members). It is standing, as we are talking now, on 9852 – and has increased by 3200 or so. Now, that is the type of work that this executive is doing by bringing back football. And if football suffers, you can imagine what will happen to our kids.
“If football is not being played…Football is the mother of all sports. If football is not happening in our communities where we come from, the working-class area, the poorest of the poor, if it is not happening, nothing else will happen. Nothing will function, the ecosystem of society will just fail, and everybody will drop dead, everything.
“It is because of football, that darts will exist, cricket will come with the summer codes. Softball and baseball will happen, but it starts with football. It is the epicenter that holds the organisations together. Now, there has been an increase, if I take from 2021 to now, it is an increase of 4000 (members) – nearly double the members.
“So, you need to compliment and take note of such issues, the progress being made and remove trivial stuff, you know ‘dai klein goetetjies man’ that will sidetrack you from real progress and things that are happening.
“Oh, I keep on hearing that you are taking a decision (on breakaway LFA). Even If you give your blessing – Oh, and by the way I thought it is only priests that are allowed to give blessings – Mr. President (Gilbert Kruger), to people to go and form another LFA, Safa Cape Town will not accept that new member because that is not a new member.
“That is a breakaway. We must not entertain breakaways, if you are not happy then you must remove (leaders) by the same democratic practices they were elected into power as Safa will not accept any other way,” Bailey concluded.
