/ 31 October 2009

Downs, Cosmos face action over Safa outbursts

Mamelodi Sundowns and Jomo Cosmos face PSL disciplinary action over their outspoken support for
recently-elected Safa president Kirsten Nematandani.

The recent election of Nematandani and a new ruling hierarchy at Safa has divided South African soccer and is threatening to spill over into preparations for next year’s Soccer World Cup.

But it is not that owners Patrice Motsepe and Jomo Sono have broken ranks from a PSL which stands solidly behind their chairperson, Irvin Khoza, in his unbending bid to become Safa president that has incensed the league, according to CEO Kejtl Siem.

Rather it is that the two bosses voiced their views after their clubs agreed at the league’s recent board of governor’s meeting that only deputy chairperson Kaizer Motaung should comment on the issue of seeking legal opinion as to whether the Safa elections were constitutionally legitimate.

”When the proposal that only Motaung should comment on the issue was raised,” said Siem, ”neither Sundowns nor Cosmos opposed the
resolution. Surely that was the time when their representatives should have raised their opposition.

”Cosmos did not as much as oppose the earlier resolution to seek legal opinion on the Safa elections either.

”In the circumstances,” added the PSL CEO, ”we have had no alternative but to refer the matter to the PSL prosecutor, Zola Majavu, who will decide whether Sundowns and Cosmos should be charged with bringing the League into disrepute.

”We are a democratic organisation,” said Siem, ”but when you tacitly accept a resolution supported by the vast majority while not raising any objections at the appropriate time — and then disregard the ruling to which they are a party, it is embarrassing for the organisation as a whole.”

Sono and Cosmos have already been summoned to appear before the PSL disciplinary committee on another charge relating to a failure to heed the League’s disciplinary procedures. – Sapa