Police are ‘slow to act’ against illegal games, says association

The Mdantsane Local Football Association says they have been let down by police as defiant teams in the amateur ranks continue to breach Covid-19 lockdown regulations by hosting tournaments on Saturdays.

Over the past two weeks, more than eight teams have played tournaments at Mdantsane NU7 sports fields and at Nkomponi Sports Fields at NU1.

Mdalfa chair Mnyamezeli Bomeni told the Dispatch that he called the police to disperse the crowds but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

However, Eastern Cape police spokesperson Captain Khaya Tonjeni said they only received one complaint about an event at NU7 sports ground.

“The police dispersed the crowd peacefully and further warned them,” Tonjeni said.

“Apparently they were misled to believe that the soccer games were finally allowed to take place during level 3 lockdown after the games were prohibited for a long time during the lockdown.

“Nothing was reported again to the police with regards to the incident.”

Bomeni said it had become a norm that “every weekend in Mdantsane there is a tournament”.

He said more than three executive members of Mdalfa made efforts to call the police last Saturday while tournaments were on but there was no action.

Bomeni said the LFA had written letters to all clubs informing them about the lockdown regulations but five have so far defied the instructions.

“We called Nyibiba police station on many occasions asking them to come to the field and enforce the regulations. But they took that lightly.”

He said the association would take appropriate actions against all those involved.

On Friday, Safa Eastern Cape provincial secretary Isaac Klaas said they had noted with regret the flouting of the lockdown regulations by some clubs.

Tonjeni urged anyone who is not satisfied with the service they get from the police to raise the complaint with station commanders.