PSL club accused of meddling in ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs case
A DStv Premiership club has been accused of colluding with one of the losing teams in the ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs, which lodged a protest on Friday.
Thames FC from North West has lodged a protest against Kruger United over the eligibility of their player.
Kruger beat Thames from the North West, while Highbury beat Njampela from KwaZulu-Natal in the other semi-final to secure promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
WHAT IS THE PROTEST IN THE ABC MOTSEPE LEAGUE NATIONAL PLAYOFFS ALL ABOUT
Thames alleges that Kruger player Thabang Gumede was improperly registered as he was not cleared by Royal AM. Gumede played for the Royal AM DDC side before he joined Summerfield Dynamos who play in the SAFA ABC Motsepe League in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Mpumalanga side signed Gumede from Summerfield in January 2024. He scored one of the goals when Kruger beat NC Professionals in the first match of the playoffs and also featured during the semi-final match against Thames on Friday.
Themes FC, who lost in the semi-finals against Kruger United [Mpumalanga], have lodged a protest against them.
WHAT KRUGER UNITED SAY ABOUT THE ACCUSATIONS OF USING THABANG GUMEDE
But Kruger co-chairman Bongani Wati has rubbished the accusations and accused Royal AM of colluding with Thames while they have no case.
“It irritates me, to say the least. It’s very embarrassing for Royal AM to come and do this,” Wati told FARPost.
“They are supposed to be bigger brothers. But they are colluding with Thames.”
“He [Thabang] was cleared from Summerfield on the 16th of January and registered with Kruger United. So, for me, that’s why I am saying I am irritated. A team should celebrate and we are being dragged to this.
“So I feel like the Royal AM General Manager [Richard Makhoba] is just a vulture. I don’t know what he is trying to achieve. But there is no case here. SAFA is there and let’s see what happens there.”
The case is currently sitting before the SAFA competitions committee. A verdict is expected to be handed on Saturday before the final match on Sunday.
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