Sekhukhune ruled as NFD champions
THERE will be some red faces on the PSL's executive after the Gauteng Local Division, of the High Court of South Africa ruled that Hilton Epstein's arbitration award will be applied.
This has ensured that Sekhukhune United, based in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, secured automatic promotion to the Premiership next season.
NFD club Polokwane City and, bizarrely, the PSL joined forces and applied to the court to have the arbitration overturned. Gauteng deputy judge president Roland Sutherland ruled that the application be dismissed.
The PSL graciously accepted the outcome and soon afterwards announced Sekhukhune were indeed the GladAfrica Championship winners. The runners-up, Royal AM, will contest the PSL promotion/relegation playoffs, which will start tomorrow and end on 30 June. By that time, the Premiership line-up for next season will be decided.
Just over a week ago, when the season ended, Royal AM declared themselves the GladAfrica Championship winners and audaciously presented players with phoney winners' medals at their boisterous post-match celebrations, which were well-aired on social media platforms.
Safa also weighed in on the debate as soon as Sutherland's ruling became known. Safa said it accepts the ruling that the application to review the arbitration outcome be dismissed.
"As far as the association is concerned, we are happy with the outcome,'' said Safa chief executive advocate Tebogo Motlanthe in a statement over the weekend.
The straight-talking Motlanthe said the outcome showed that the arbiters were well-versed with the rules of the competition. He urged the PSL to accept and implement judicial decisions. Safa's statement also advised that the costs incurred by Sekhukhune should be borne by Polokwane and Royal AM.
This week the action moves from the courtroom to the playing field to determine who will join Sekhukhune in the top flight next season. Sekhukhune, however, will take the place of Black Leopards, who were relegated after finishing last in the Premiership last season, after being awarded automatic promotion.
The Nedbank Cup runners-up Chippa United finished second last and can survive relegation by winning the playoffs. Only one of the three teams will be promoted after two rounds of round-robin matches.
Richards Bay, who finished in third place on the NFD standings, will host Royal AM at Umhlathuze Sports Stadium tomorrow in the playoffs opener.
On Friday, the action moves to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where Chippa will host KwaZulu-Natal visitors Royal AM.