SAFA Eastern Cape has taken a decisive decision to suspend all Sinenkani FC’s ABC Motsepe League fixtures pending a disciplinary hearing on four counts of charges.
The ‘Stubborn Nation’, as they affectionately known, have been accused of assaulting a match official during the heated Bizana Derby against FC Ravens on Saturday, 25 January 2025.
Sinenkani went on to lose the game 1-0, with the Kurt Lentjies-coached side claiming the derby bragging rights in their quest to gain promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
Sinenkani faces charges of assault or attempted assault of a match official, incitement of violence, failure to protect a match official, and bringing the association and its sponsors into disrepute.
However, Sinenkani have come forward to state that they have committed no wrongdoing that justifies any disciplinary measures against the club and they intend to contest all the allegations laid against them.
To add to that, the side also accused SAFA Eastern Cape of violating Rule 30.1 of SAFA competition uniform regulations, claiming that the match commissioner on the day of the game between Ravens and Sinenkani is the father of one player from the opposition team.
SINENKANI FC’S OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE SUSPENSION OF THEIR MATCHES
“We wish to inform the stubborn nation that we have received two formal communications relating to a summon to appear before the SAFA EC disciplinary committee and another letter informing us of the suspension of all our games pending the DC.
“This means that the match scheduled to take place on Saturday, 08th February 2025 against Amaxesibe FC will not take place as planned. We wish to state categorically clearly that we do not believe we have done anything wrong that warrants any disciplinary action against the club and we are going to challenge all the charges laid against us.
“We wish to also inform the Stubborn Nation that we have also written a formal complaint to SAFA regarding the match commissioner of the day of the match between FC Ravens and Sinenkani FC, which took place on the 25th January 2025 in Mphuthumi Mafumbatha Stadium. Mr Mbangatha, who is allegedly the father of one of the FC Ravens players, is contravening Rule 30.1 of SAFA Competition Uniform Rules. To this point, we have not received any response from SAFA EC regarding this complaint.
“We have also written to SAFA seeking clarity on the non-arrival of referees during our match against G-millionaires FC on Saturday, 1 February.
“We call upon all our supporters to remain calm as we are now in consultation with our legal team to determine a suitable response and action to the communications from SAFA EC. The club will inform the nation of any further action to be taken.”
This publication will keep you posted on the disciplinary hearing outcomes in due course.
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