/ 30 June 1997

League relegation teams in war of words

MONDAY, 10.30AM:

The appointment of Lawrence “Big Bear” Ngubane as the manager of the Durban-based Amazulu soccer team has prompted Port Elizaberth Warriors manager Budgie Byrne to proclaim that the affair is becoming “distinctly more questionable”.

Byrne was referring to the two dubious points awarded to Amazulu from their drawn match against Umtata Bush Bucks.

Not long ago Byrne, at the time manager of Hellenic, accused Ngubane of offering him a bribe to “throw a game”. “Big Bear” denied the allegation.

Warriors had protested to the South African Football Asociation about the two boardroom points and threatened to go to the High Court to preserve their Premier League status.