SAFA provincial chairperson Jack Maluleke
By: Refilwe Sebola
The defending champions of the ABC Motsepe League stream A, Mpheni Defenders, are on the brink of facing charges for allegedly abandoning their match against Vondwe XI Bullets a few weeks ago, pending the findings of the South African Football Association (SAFA) disciplinary committee.
Jack Maluleke, the SAFA Limpopo provincial chairperson, confirmed that his office is diligently reviewing the match report and video evidence surrounding the incident.
A short video clip making rounds on YouTube captures the moment when the assistant referee signalled for a penalty against Mpheni Defenders after a player contested a long throw-in from a Bullets player.
The assistant referee ruled that a handball had occurred, prompting the referee to award the penalty. On the sidelines, Mpheni Defenders’ owner and coach, Sydwell Phuravhathu, was seen rallying his players to protest the decision.
While it remains unclear if any players exited the field, Maluleke has indicated that charges will follow if they did. However, Phuravhathu is adamant that his players did not abandon the game; they were simply exercising their right to protest the referee’s ruling.
“We were merely protesting the referee’s decision. My players never left the field,” he asserted confidently. He also pointed out that the referee later reversed the penalty decision, opting for a drop ball instead, a change that the Bullets team contested before the referee left the field.
Although the details of the referee’s report are not publicly available, SAFA is fully committed to addressing these matters promptly to ensure that such incidents do not occur as the season continues.
Mpheni owner and coach Sydwell Phuravhathu is adamant that his team did not cause the abandonment of the game.