Mikhado vs Mpheni - the struggle continues

The struggle for promotion between Mikhado Football Club and Mpheni Home Defenders will soon come to an end.

During its sitting held at the league’s offices two weeks ago, the South African Football Association (Safa) appeal board ruled in favour of Mikhado FC. Home Defenders felt offended by the appeals board's decision and they took the matter up for arbitration last week.

The two sides were still waiting for the arbitrators’ decision at the time of our going to press. The case relates to an incident that took place during the Safa Vhembe promotional playoff match between Mpheni Home Defenders and Mikhado FC at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday, June 18.

Home Defenders won the game through a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw at the end of the regulation time. Mikhado lodged a protest with the referee shortly before the game started. In their protest, Mikhado alleged that one of the players for Home Defenders, Rinae Hector Mulaudzi, was not properly registered with the club.

During its meeting that was held a week later to decide on the matter, the league’s disciplinary committee ruled that the player was properly registered with the club. That decision did not go down well with Mikhado, who took the matter up with the Safa Appeals board.

The case was initially dismissed on the basis that the proper channels were not followed.

Mikhado did not throw in the towel and filed the appeal afresh. The appeals board found that Mulaudzi had a dual registration in that he was registered with another club from Safa Capricorn during the 2016/17 soccer season. The board again ordered that Home Defenders must forfeit the points to the opponents in all matches where Mulaudzi was fielded and that they must pay all the costs for the appeal board sitting.

The decision was bitter pill to swallow for Home Defenders. They immediately prepared the documents and took the matter up for arbitration within 72 hours as required by the league’s rules and regulations. The arbitrators’ decision will be binding on both parties in terms of the rules and regulations.

The winners will represent the Safa Vhembe in the provincial play-offs that will be held on a date still to be announced. Vhembe Regional Association will host the provincial play-off matches.

Date:28 July 2017

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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