Stormers back against Blues
electoral committee must be elected at an extraordinary congress six months before the election. “That means everything that has been done thus far is null and void. There is no Danny Jordaan that is running alone uncontested. The process must restart with the issuing of nominations done under the stewardship of the electoral code,” said Ncobo, who withdrew his presidential bid at an entente brokered by Fifa envoy Phillip Chiyangwa, president of the Zimbabwe Football Association and Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa).
“Safa has also inserted an unconstitutional clause in article 21.4 of the statutes. That article grants voting rights to the outgoing executive members. The agreement that Jordaan signed says Safa must go through a constitutional amendment process to remove that article. That constitutional amendment must take place before the elective congress,” said Ncobo.
To amend the constitution, Safa needs to call for a general assembly and needs a 30day notice. It must send out the proposed amendment to the members at least 14 days before the general assembly. After the general assembly, they must submit the new statutes with any amendment to Fifa before they declare those amendments valid.
Safa’s statement treats the agreement with disdain and its tone is dismissive on what Jordaan signed on.
“That the continued talk of Ace Ncobo is not an issue as the former referee is not a presidential candidate any more as he officially withdrew during a meeting brokered by . . . Chiyangwa.
“According to that agreement, which was reached on Thursday 15 March 2018; nothing in that accord talks of the elections being postponed. The Safa NEC met on Thursday afternoon to put together an Electoral Committee as prescribed by the Safa Constitution and that committee will monitor and oversee Saturday’s elections,” read Safa’s statement.
But, in a letter dated March 11 to Joyce Cook, chief membership affairs officer for Fifa, and Vernon Mosengo-Omba, director of development for Africa and the Caribbean, Safa chief executive Dennis Mumble concedes that “this would have the effect of rendering our elective conference a nullity on February 24 2018 if there is no electoral committee”. On Thursday, Safa requested Cosafa to make available legal expert Itayi Ndudzo for a presentation to the NEC guiding them on the statutes and content of the agreement. The Sunday Times understands Ndudzo was clear the electoral committee was non-negotiable, meaning they have to follow the rules. “They asked him whether it was compulsory to wait six months before the election — the answer was, read the electoral code.” at Newlands
● The Stormers ended a three-match losing streak with a patchwork team by beating the Blues 37-20 at Newlands to put their season back on track after near derailment in the past month.
Considering the adversity the Stormers faced going into this match, it was a near flawless first half that set up victory.
A flu bug had felled nearly half the squad for most of the week, on the back of a threeweek winless tour and jet lag after returning from New Zealand. The Stormers didn’t have a single training session with a full squad prior to this encounter. They were always going to battle in the second half, compounded by a callow bench, but they hung on.
The Stormers scored four tries with flyhalf Damian Willemse giving another strong display and contributing 14 points from four conversions and two penalties.
Centre Damian de Allende, one of the men who spent most of the week in bed, had a powerful match both in attack and defence. Opposing Sonny Bill Williams and Rieko Ioane was always going to be a challenge but he and EW Viljoen, who scored twice, were the dominant combination for the most part.
The Stormers’ defensive line speed shut down most Blues attacks and led to handling errors from the visitors.
Flank Pieter-Steph du Toit gave his best performance of the season with an indefatigable outing that underlined how good he can be. His pace down the touchline to set up a try for Raymond Rhule highlighted his pace and skill. And the way he bulldozed three Blues defenders out the way to create space for scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage’s late firsthalf try demonstrated his power.
Siya Kolisi and Nizaam Carr offered great support again while props Steven Kitshoff and Wilco Louw were effective in taking the ball up the guts.
Coach Robbie Fleck was also forced to reshuffle his bench as prop Carlu Sadie, flank Sikhumbuzo Notshe and scrumhalf Justin Phillips were not healthy enough to play. Their places went to Neethling Fouche, Jaco Coetzee and Albertus de Wet respectively.
Given the bench situation it was vital the Stormers made a good start with their runon team and they couldn’t have done more.
After nine phases from the start, Viljoen finished off a fine team try to set the Stormers on their way within 90 seconds of kickoff. But after half time the momentum of the match shifted to the Blues as the Stormers tired. The visitors scored three tries. ● Orlando Pirates’ title aspirations received a boost after the disappointment of midweek cup defeat as they beat Lamontville Golden Arrows 2-1 away last night to move to within a point of leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
After losing in the second round of the Nedbank Cup at Cape Town City on Wednesday, Bucs needed a resilient showing despite little rest and got the desired result in a game in which referee Thando Ndzandzeka embarrassingly sent off the wrong player.
Arrows had to play most of the second half with 10 men after Limbikani Mzava was booked a second time for a foul he did not commit and got sent off in the 50th minute.
The ref should have booked Mzwandile Buthelezi but picked on the wrong man to the fury of a frustrated home side.
But by then Pirates had already taken the lead through Thembinkosi Lorch after sparkling passes in the 49th minute.
A second goal came from Mthokozisi Dube, after a lucky ricochet with 20 minutes to go, but plucky Arrows kept fighting despite the injustice and set up an exciting finish when Danny Venter pulled a goal back with six minutes remaining.
Pirates played with a changed system after the midweek cup defeat with three centrebacks and two high-pressing fullbacks with both Dube and Innocent Maela effectively operating as wingers.
It kept Arrows largely pinned back, relying on the occasional break on the counter, but Pirates failed to make early use of the dominance.
Xola Mlambo had their first effort in the 17th minute but his shot with the outside of the boot did not have the requisite power to beat Maximilian Mbaeva.
There was a genuine penalty appeal for Pirates five minutes later when Zolani Nkombela held back Dube as he looked to get onto the end of a square ball from Justin Shonga but the referee seemed to miss it.
Shonga broke clear after a defensive slip but tried to pass rather than shoot despite having proved his prowess from a difficult angle against Chippa United a few weeks back.
Then straight after that Thembinkosi Lorch should have pulled the trigger but opted out and instead fluffed a pass to Shonga when he really had a chance to fire home.
Arrows’ first chance came in the 29th minute with a free kick pulled back by Siphelele Magubane to Venter, who conspired to fire well wide of the target.
There’s no Danny Jordaan that is running uncontested Ace Ncobo Former referee
Flank Pieter-Steph du Toit gave his best performance of the season