No Safa officials nor match referees present.
Hope United FC, one of four Local Football Association clubs that took part in the Engen Under-18 Youth tournament in Upington, returned home an unhappy lot after the knockout competition degenerated into chaos a fortnight ago.
Hope United manager Deluxe Morekisi said they had successfully negotiated their way through the round robin stages as well as the regional finals which had taken place in Magareng about three weeks ago. They were selected as one of the four teams to contest the provincial finals in Upington.
Morekisi said their first notion of trouble started with them not being notified in time that they were eligible to take part in the provincial finals in Upington.
“We were informed about our participation in the tournament on Thursday, about two days before the kick off in Upington. We travelled to Upington in the early hours of the morning because of challenges with transport. We arrived there at about 7am.
“No Safa official was at hand to receive us. The Safa NC secretary Willem Coetzee arrived late and apologised. He (Coetzee) oversaw the competition draw and left. He had asked to be excused to attend to a private commitment”.
Morekisi added that the first game between female junior teams started at 10am. This was in complete contrast to similar tournaments around the country by this sponsor and others. “There was complete disarray. There were no match officials. No match commissioner. No team sheets,” he told the DFA.
Morekisi said a referee for their match was selected randomly from among the players from other teams. “The first half of our game lasted for close to 70 minutes instead of the stipulated 25 minutes a side. By then we (Hope FC) were leading. Our opponents scored an equalising goal and the referee paused the match just then. The match resumed only to last for about 17 minutes.
“We ended up losing on penalties”.
Hope United player Kgatliso Kaselela (16) shared his mentor’s sentiments about the match. “We were supposed to play for 25 minutes a side. We played for an hour in the first half. The second half lasted for about 15 minutes. I think this was done so that the other team could score the equaliser.
“As soon as they did the match was stopped. There were no other Safa officials at the match. There was also no branding of the sponsor spread around the field, like we’re used to see. I am not happy about how that tournament was conducted.”
This same sentiment is largely also shared by the club coach Vusumzi Blood.
Safa NC deputy chairperson Doc Mathe gave a lengthy response to our enquiry. In main, Mathe said the tournament itself is a private tournament which Safa was asked to coordinate.
However, Mathe said they will sit down with Engen and discuss these matters. “We’re going to meet (Engen) to discuss a way forward and to have better relations. We accept that some people were not happy with the running of the tournament.
“Also, we received a letter from a parent. It is unprocedural to entertain such. We must receive such (complaint or protest) from our affiliate or member. It would be better for us to entertain it as such if it is from our members. We do not deal directly with parents. So it is difficult to deal with it because it is not provided for in our rules.”
Mathe mentioned that there were also issues regarding the validity of player cards. Concerning match referees Mathe said Safa did provide match officials at the tournament but cautioned that teams that walked off the pitch in protest did so at their own risk.
“The correct procedure for unhappy teams is to lodge a complaint at the grounds and to await the ruling of the Safa disciplinary committee on such matters.
“Any matter arising from the field will be raised by the referee. Thereafter the DC will decide.”
