The proverbial plot thickens regarding the ongoing saga of a breakaway league at the Mitchells Plain LFA (MPLFA).
It was always on the cards that the MPLFA was not going to reach finality on the issue due to the complexity of the case.
The MPLFA will now reconvene at their Weltevreden base on Thursday (21 September) to hopefully reach a consensus.
Once again there were a few clubs absent at the meeting on Sunday held in the hall at the Westridge Sports Complex . Cedar, MA Collville, Red Rovers and Rockafellas were the teams that did not make an appearance.
The MPLFA’s president, Gilbert Kruger, once again reaffirmed the suspension of Kenny Hendricks, chairman of Tafelzucht FC and secretary of the MPLFA.
“This would have been until the council meeting which is today (17 September 2023), but we will decide on Thursday whether it will go to the Disciplinary Committee (DC) and when it goes to the DC.
“It can only be lifted at the congress meeting on Thursday, however, we will request that the suspension remain in place until we get to the DC,” said Kruger.
It was quite clear that most club representatives were cautious and very reluctant to forward proposals for whatever reasons.
Eventually, after lunch, the proposals were presented to the MPLFA’S Executive regarding the way forward.
The only proposal tabled is for the seven members implicated, besides Hendricks who is already suspended, to be given a “fair” chance to come clean and to please explain their role in the proposed breakaway.
The seven members to appear before the DC and give clarity for their roles are Ismail du Toit (Westridge FC), Dion Warner (Cedar Park), Granville Solomons (Red Rovers), Nino Solomons, (Rockafellas) and Gerald Cookson (Kenpark United).
This proposal was put forward by Mr Reginald Rorich from Westridge FC who is of the opinion that it is unfair that the respective clubs also be held liable for the actions of their respective members – therefore they should appear before the DC to explain.
Similarly, this sentiment was shared by Morgenster United’s Sedick White and seconded by Shawaan Daniels from Bayhill United.
It should also be noted that Tafelzucht’s acting chairman, André Arendse, did more harm than good in trying to exonerate the club’s role in this debacle.
He started off on a good note when he confirmed that Hendricks acted in his personal capacity and the club was unaware of this radical move from their suspended chairman.
But then Arendse became too clever for himself and started to suffer from verbal diarrhoea. He unknowingly dug a hole for himself, the more he talked the more he implicated himself and his club.
Arendse also admitted that he was aware of the proposed breakaway but brushed it off by saying that his discussion with Hendricks was informal and innocent and merely to find ways to better football going forward.
Arendse also insinuated that the MPLFA was in “disarray and in a shambles”. Kruger took exception to this statement and stood up in the meeting where he subsequently ordered Arendse to sit down, which the latter hesitantly did.
Kruger then educated Arendse, who by his own admission, reappeared at the club after some time “away” due to politics.
“When the chairman stands up, you must sit down,” Kruger warned. “Otherwise, I would be deemed as a weak leader, and everyone can just do as they please. Also, you mentioned earlier that the club did not mandate Mr. Hendricks to have a meeting on the club’s behalf, now you are saying that you had a meeting with him.”
Kruger explained to Arendse that the fact that his club forwarded no correspondence to note that they distance themselves from Hendricks or his actions is questionable.
The MPLFA soccer boss also dictated to Arendse that he has no control over his club and its members of which the latter took offence and wanted to dismiss this.
Kruger backed up his statement by explaining to Arendse that Hendricks was still performing certain duties for the club which shows a total disregard for the MPLFA’s (suspension) decision.
