THE speculation about the team that will represent the province of KwaZulu-Natal in the National Play-Offs in the Safa ABC Motsepe League is over after the referee’s decision ended up favoring Mkhambathi FC in the dispute with Singa United over a player who was suspected of not being registered correctly.
Mkhambathi, who defeated Mvoti FC 1-0 in the provincial final on May 16 at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, Clermont, will represent KZN in the ABC Motsepe League National Play-Offs to qualify the teams that will be promoted to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
The games will be played in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, from Monday June 1 to June 7.
The judge overruled the decision that had been issued in favor of Msinga in the case of a player who was suspected of being registered in an improper manner.
After Wednesday’s decision in the case that had been dismissed by Mkhambathi, the Safa KwaZulu-Natal office has decided to direct the match between Msinga and Voti FC at SJ Smith Stadium, Lamontville, on Thursday.
However, that game ended up failing after the national office of Safa issued an urgent order to stop it to review Mkhambathi’s complaint.
This happened after Mkhambathi had forwarded to the national office of Safa the issue of his dissatisfaction with the arbitrator’s decision which was in favor of Msinga.
The tussle between Mkhambathi and Singa started last week when Msinga sued Mkhambathi for playing Thulebona Vezi, who alleged that he was registered improperly when he was signed by this team at the beginning of the season from Royal AM.
The arbitrator’s decision was in Msinga’s favour, but Mkhambathi appealed the case, and then sued Msinga for the same charge of playing an unregistered player.
And when the group from Mkhambathini complained again, they conveyed their dissatisfaction with the decision to the Safa head office, which was the one that finally intervened, as now everything is in their favor to represent the province as a whole.
Last year KZN was represented by Midlands Wanderers who won and got a chance to be promoted to the Motsepe Championship.