Diamond City FC confirms, ‘We lodged a protest with Safa in the NC’.
SAFA Northern Cape have postponed this coming weekend’s Nedbank Cup second round fixtures owing to a protest lodged by Diamond City FC regarding their loss on penalties to neighbours Colville United a fortnight ago.
Safa Northern Cape secretary Willem Coetzee made the announcement regarding the fixture postponement on Monday night, saying that he could not predict when the Safa arbitration team would likely finalise the arbitration.
The anticipated weekend Nedbank fixtures have been postponed to make room for the national Safa arbitration team to deal timeously with the matter. Consequently the fixtures will now be played next week, he told the DFA.
In the fixture memorandum circulated to all teams in the competition Coetzee said: “Please take note that due to the arbitration matter (being heard) this week the fixtures for the coming weekend (of) 17 and 18 September have been postponed to 24 & 25 September.”
Regarding the match protest lodged by Diamond City FC, the team’s media consultant Jerry Kale said, “Diamond City FC confirms that we have lodged a protest with Safa in the Northern Cape.
“The protest is now at arbitration stage. This protest arises from the match played between us and Colville United on 3 September at the De Beers Stadium in Kimberley.
“This was a Nedbank Cup preliminary round knockout match which ended with a nil-nil score after ninety minutes.
“The match referee called for the match to be decided through a penalty shootout without awarding any extra time period.
“Our contention is that the (referee’s) decision was incorrect. We therefore lodged a protest and the penalty shootout proceeded under protest.
“Colville United won the match with four successful penalties to three successful shots by us …Diamond City FC now awaits the outcome of the arbitration.”
Diamond City was previously known as Real Madrid FC of Ipopeng suburb in Galeshewe. The name change was to help the club comply with intellectual property regulations and patents.
The name belongs to a world famous Spanish team. A Kimberley resident and retired sports personality tried to claim the club’s new name but the effort came to nothing.
The rest of the results for last weekend’s Nedbank Cup results are as follows:
Saturday 10 September Okiep Stadium
Match 1: Benfica FC 0-1 Kakamas Juventus
Match 2: Tornado FC 2 (3) – 2 (0) Kakamas Juventus
Saturday 10 September Ditloung Stadium:
Olifantshoek Young Stars 1-2 NC Professionals
Saturday 10 September Merino Park Stadium
United Rovers 3-1 Postmasburg FC
