After nearly four months of boardroom wrangling over promotion, Mpheni Defenders have emerged victorious in two arbitration cases against Vondwe XI Bullets.
The cases stemmed from incidents during their clashes in the Safa ABC Motsepe League, which led to matches' being abandoned under controversial circumstances.
The first fixture, played in December last year, was abandoned with only two minutes remaining after the referee awarded a contentious penalty to Bullets. The league's disciplinary committee later ruled that the match should be replayed.
However, the scheduled replay on 26 February at Makonde Stadium was also called off after an assistant referee alleged intimidation.
A third attempt to complete the fixture was made at Thohoyandou Stadium on 19 March. That match also ended in chaos, following another controversial penalty decision. With the score level at 1-1, the match concluded with a penalty shootout—despite Bullets having no goalkeeper in the goal at the time.
The incidents were brought before a disciplinary hearing, where Mpheni Defenders won both cases. Bullets appealed to the Safa Appeals Board but lost as the appeal was dismissed on the grounds that proper procedures had not been followed.
In the matter concerning the abandoned replay at Makonde Stadium, the arbitrator ruled that Defenders be awarded three points. The team was also granted three points for the disrupted match at Thohoyandou Stadium.
These awarded points place Mpheni Defenders at the top of the log and confirm their qualification for the provincial play-offs.
Reacting to the outcome, Mpheni Defenders chairperson Mr Vhutshilo Phuravhathu said he was pleased with the decision. "We are now waiting for the winners in Stream B," he said. "We are going to win the provincial play-off and represent Limpopo in the national promotional play-off next month."