Van Rooyen’s suspension set aside by Safa appeals board

THE Safa’s national appeals board has set aside the suspension of East London Central Local Football Association president Gavin van Rooyen.

Van Rooyen, suspended by Safa Buffalo City, welcomed the judgment yesterday, describing the past two years in which his status in football circles had been questioned as “extremely difficult and depressing”.

After a boardroom dispute with the Safa Buffalo City regional leadership that started in 2013, Van Rooyen took up the matter with the national office earlier this year via the appeal route.

The Safa appeals board which heard the matter this past weekend released its findings yesterday, stating that “the suspension of Mr Van Rooyen be set aside” and that the R10 000 appeal fee he forked out courtesy of his EL Central coffers be refunded.

Van Rooyen said he was ready to smoke the peace pipe with Safa-BC but urged fellow football administrators to put aside “personal differences and selfish aims” for the benefit of the game.

He said he would probably have thrown in the towel long ago were it not for the support from his LFA’s clubs and executive committee. “The past two years since my suspension have personally been extremely difficult and depressing in terms of fully fulfilling the responsibilities I was elected for, due to the failure of the regional leadership to recognise my role as chairman of East London Central, and the continual barrage of questions raised by the football fraternity regarding my status as a football administrator and football leader.

“What was more disheartening was the fact that the suspension imposed on me was merely done after I requested in writing that our regional leadership host an extraordinary congress in 2013 to address issues of concern raised by us local football associations.

“I however bear no ill feelings towards anyone for what I have experienced.

“What I have experienced made me realise that as football administrators and football leaders we need to work together in growing the game in our region so that ultimately our players and clubs can achieve their dreams.”

Safa-BC general-secretary Vukile Mlanjana, who represented the regional leadership at the appeal hearing, said he was unable to comment on the matter “because the REC [Regional Executive Committee] needs to convene and deliberate on this issue before we can come out with official reaction”.

Van Rooyen proposed that Safa-BC hold talks with him and other individuals about their differences and seek a peaceful resolution going forward.

Safa-BC member LFAs are likely to welcome this new development as the public spat between Van Rooyen and Safa-BC had been the centre of attention in football for the past two years, much to the detriment of football development. —