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Coaches share opinions on ‘controversial’ Motsepe playoffs format

ABC Motsepe League coaches at the national playoffs, currently underway, have shared their views on the amended format that has created controversy.

The playoffs are taking place at the Soshanguve Giant Stadium and the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville. The tournament is currently in the semi-final stages following the completion of the group stages on Friday.

Following the exclusion of Limpopo and Eastern Cape at the playoffs, teams were reduced to seven. This is after court battles in those provinces, which led to SAFA reducing the teams to seven.

The new format has also led to another legal battle regarding who qualifies for the semi-finals. Midlands Wanderers and Zizwe United, who both finished with a single point, had to replay their match to determine who would go through.

CONTROVERSIAL ABC MOTSEPE LEAGUE NATIONAL PLAYOFFS: DIVIDED OPINIONS FROM COACHES

“The system is so difficult because the players are so young. You come into the dressing room, and they tell you that after 90 minutes, it will be your only game. It was difficult [for the players] to manage the situation,” said African Warriors coach Johnny Mofereka.

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder and coach of the Bees FC, Humphrey Mlwane, also shared the same sentiments. “For other teams, it’s not fair. Unfortunately, it’s just that these cases destroy football,” said Mlwane.

“I know we are going to the semi-finals, but we should have followed the right procedures in terms of determining the teams that go through,” he said.

Midlands Wanderers chairman/coach Masenti Myeni during an interview with the media
Midlands Wanderers chairman/coach Masenti Myeni: Picture @FARPopst

SAFA URGED TO TAKE CONTROVERSIAL FORMAT AS A LESSON

Chairman and coach at Midlands Wanderers, Masenti Myeni, says the recent chaos at the playoffs should serve as a lesson to all stakeholders.

“We are hopeful that whatever the challenges that led to us having seven teams can also be a lesson to all teams, administrators, and the leadership of SAFA in various provinces and nationally will learn from takes like this,” he said.

“We hope that as we move forward, we will not commit the same mistakes. So I think let’s just take it as a lesson.

“But I would not want to express any feeling on it because I do not have any details about how the decision was arrived at,” added Myeni.

RELATED STORY: ABC Motsepe playoffs semis draw marred by controversy

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