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More trouble is looming for the embattled Safa. The football association is facing a revolt from disgruntled second- and third-division clubs, which are now serving it with divorce papers, demanding to be released to join the NSL.
In a strongly worded letter to Sports and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, the clubs detail their grievances, which range from non-payment of grants for more than two seasons to substandard playing kits and corruption in their leagues.
They have asked the minister to hold the association to account for their grievances.
The letter comes at a time when Safa is reeling from bad publicity over a bitter spat between president Danny Jordaan and one of his vice-presidents, Gay Mokoena.
Now the beleaguered association has to douse more flames in the form of disgruntled developmental clubs.
“As second-division league teams [also known as the ABC Motsepe League], we have regrettably come to an unfortunate decision to write this letter detailing the teams’ frustrations with Safa for its poor management and administration of the promotional leagues,” read part of the unsigned letter.
Another allegation is that the teams have not been paid travel allowances for three seasons.
“All teams were supposed to receive travel allowances per season payable in two instalments – the first payment at the end of the first round of league matches and the second at the end of the season,” reads the letter.
The clubs are now demanding to be released to join the NSL.
“The teams therefore demand the formation of a national second-division league, divided into two streams – inland and coastal – under the management and administration of the NSL with effect from the 2020/21 season.
“Participation in this league will be determined through provincial play-offs at the beginning of the 2020/21 season.
“The teams participating in this league shall be responsible for their travel costs.
"Each team shall make a payment of an affiliation fee and administration fees of at least R100 000 to the NSL to cover administration costs and referees’ travel expenses while the board of governors and the administration are still soliciting a sponsorship.”
Dominic Chimhavi, Safa’s head of communication, said the payments to the clubs were being processed.
Read: Tim Spirit: The CEO situation at Safa reflects badly on Danny Jordaan
“Safa’s chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo is busy fixing the outstanding payments, which were a result of our cash flow problems,” Chimhavi said.
However, he said the letter sent to Mthethwa was the work of “naughty” individuals who were bent on painting the national association in a bad light.
Chimhavi also said there was no way clubs could join the NSL.
“Talk of being administered by the NSL is silly on the part of the authors of that document.
“All over the world, amateur football is administered by the FA [the country’s national football association] and no one else.”
The clubs also accused Safa of failing to deal with corruption in the lower leagues.
“Corruption has escalated to alarming levels and Safa has failed to act decisively against teams, team owners, Safa officials and referees involved in corruption despite overwhelming evidence presented to Safa,” noted the letter.
Clubs also alleged that they were promised two sets of playing kits at the beginning of every season, but this had not happened.
“The ABC Motsepe League has been running for more than five seasons, but Safa has failed to provide the teams with the two sets of jerseys as promised.
“Teams were only given two sets of jerseys once – at the end of the 2017/18 season.
"The jerseys do not even conform to the number of players that must be on the team sheet. Only 15 jerseys are provided, which are useless because teams are required to have 18 players on the team sheet.
“Teams are therefore forced to purchase two sets of 18 jerseys and to brand the jerseys with the league logo [ABC Motsepe League], the sponsor’s name [Motsepe Foundation], the Safa logo, jersey number, team logo and the team or player’s name at very high costs to the team. But teams derive no benefit from the Motsepe Foundation, while the teams give the foundation free mileage.”
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