LUBUKEKA will continue to focus on the issue of litigation between Mkhambathi FC and Singa United despite the fact that an independent arbitrator has ruled in favor of United, finding Mkhambathi guilty of using an unregistered player.
It has become history that Mkhambathi who are the provincial champions of the Safa KwaZulu-Natal ABC Motsepe League by defeating Mvoti FC 1-0 in the final at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, Clermont last week, are the ones who were expected to represent the province in the national Play-Offs to be played in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, on June 2-7.
Mkhambathi was sued by Singa for illegally playing Thulebona Vezi when he was signed by this team at the beginning of the season from Royal AM. Vezi played for this team against Falcons FC and Mhwati United in league matches.
The arbitrator found that the release letter used by Mkhambathi was forged.
This decision that came out on Saturday means that Mkhambathi will be deprived of four points. This gives Msinga the opportunity to finish at the top of Stream B’s log of the KZN ABC Motsepe League as they were two points behind Mkhambathi.
However, yesterday it emerged that Mkhambathi has written to Safa KwaZul-Natal asking for a review of the decision.
Then again yesterday, Mkhambathi issued a statement confirming that he accepts the decision of the arbitrator on the matter concerning him and Singha, however, he then revealed that his lawyers are considering this decision so they are still waiting for advice on the next steps.
In this statement, Mkhambathi revealed that he has also sued Msinga for playing an illegally registered player, and confirmed that he has forwarded the matter to Safa.
Touched by ythe Sun yesterday afternoon, Kwenza Ngwenya who is the chairman of Safa in KwaZulu-Natal, said that he will not comment on the issue of Mkhambathi and Singa as he has just arrived from Tanzania.
“I just arrived today from Tanzania, so I cannot comment on the issue of Msinga and Mkhambathi because I do not have complete information yet.
I have yet to hear from Nomkhosi (Zulu) at the Safa office about Mkhambathi’s letter and other things that have happened, then I will stop and comment on what I know,” Ngwenya said in short.
The dispute between Mkhambathi and Singa seems to delay plans for the team that will represent KwaZulu-Natal in the national Play-Offs to qualify the two teams that will be promoted to the paying section of the Motsepe Foundation Championship in June.
Last season, this province was represented by Midlands Wanderers from Pietermaritzburg, who were successful and got a unique opportunity to be promoted to the Motsepe Championship.