A special meeting for clubs affiliated with the SAFA Vhembe Regional League, held at the Prof Ralushai NV Hall in Thohoyandou last Saturday, could not proceed after a group of team managers insisted that certain problems in the league be addressed first.
The only agenda items were the adoption of the league logs and the draw for the regional promotional play-off matches. However, some club representatives insisted that other issues, including the number of teams to be relegated, should also be discussed.
League officials resisted the demand, insisting that no additional agenda items would be entertained. This did not sit well with delegates from the affected clubs, sparking a lengthy argument between the two parties, and the meeting was eventually adjourned prematurely.
The draw for the promotional play-off matches had already been conducted by the time the meeting ended abruptly.
“We further wish to highlight that despite the premature adjournment of the Special Clubs Meeting … we were able to conduct the draw of two groups with five teams each,” reads an extract from a statement issued by the league shortly after the meeting.
In the statement, signed by league president Philbert Ndobe, the association also distanced itself from a social media post by an official of one of its affiliated clubs, Berea FC. The post accused the association's secretary-general, Sam Matodzi, of “fuelling the toxic relationship between teams and association”. One of the complaints raised concerned money spent on arbitration matters, particularly the Berea FC case.
“SAFA Vhembe wishes to categorically state that these allegations are false and lack any factual basis,” Ndobe said.
He said the matter stemmed from a complaint by Musina All Stars, alleging that their match against Berea FC had not been completed.
“The matter was referred to the Disciplinary Committee (DC) for adjudication. The DC ruled that the match should be replayed. Berea FC appealed this decision and was successful in their appeal,” he said.
Much of the discontent appears to stem from a ruling by the Appeals Board that SAFA Vhembe should bear the costs of the appeal hearing. SAFA Vhembe has lodged an appeal, arguing that it had been cited as an interested party in the proceedings, rather than appearing in defence of any club.
“SAFA Vhembe denies any amendments to the original complaint verdict, as claimed, and the chairperson of the DC has since dissociated himself from such allegations,” Ndobe said.
Although the draw was conducted at the meeting, it was not clear at the time of going to press whether the group-stage matches would go ahead this weekend as scheduled. On Wednesday, the league was still awaiting the outcomes of the pending appeal and arbitration cases, which could affect which teams take part in the promotional play-offs.
The arbitration matter was heard on Tuesday afternoon, while the appeal cases were heard earlier last week. None of the outcomes were available at the time of going to press. These include the Berea FC vs Musina All Stars match, the Mukondeni Royal vs Mashamba Soccer Academy and the Basel FC vs Tshanutilikwa match.
Ntseni FC, Mahangala Young Stars, Saudi FC, Ndiitwani Shooting Stars, Ramahantsha Blackpool, Maelula United Brothers and ABC FC have already been confirmed as champions of their respective streams.