Chiefs win arbitration, games to be replayed
KAIZER Chiefs have been handed great relief as they won their arbitration case against the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and have been granted the opportunity to play their two matches against Cape Town City and Lamontville Golden Arrows.
The Amakhosi faithful have been holding their breath for months as their failure to honour two fixtures in December last year looked set to be a big blow to their title credentials.
Chiefs were unable to field a team because of Covid infections among the players and staff at Taung Village. They reportedly had to close the centre following over 30 positive cases.
Coach Stuart Baxter has remained optimistic and vocal about his side’s chances of catching log leading Mamelodi Sundowns who have a 20 points lead on third placed Chiefs. The coach conceded that a lot rested on their ongoing saga with the League.
“I think we’ve had more than our share of hardships due to that – we’ve got the ongoing saga of games to be played or not played – so we’re in a position where, as I checked the log, we have three games, which is nine points potentially, and we to play Sundowns again, that can be a 12 point swing," he said.
PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu earlier in the year revealed that Kaizer Chiefs would be charged for their failure to fulfil two of their December fixtures and were due to appear before the league’s Disciplinary Committee in January.
Majavu had also confirmed the charges initially laid by the PSL had also been upheld by the National Soccer League Executive Committee (NSL) on the Soweto giants.
Chiefs opted to bring in the South African Football Association arbitration.
Advocate Nazeer Cassim ruled that the two ‘forfeited’ matches must be played.
“It is my view that Kaizer Chiefs was justified in not fielding teams for the fixtures on December 4 and December 8 2021. These two games must be replayed,” Cassim was quoted saying.
Chiefs, however, were ordered to bear the cost for the league and Cape Town City – the club that had travelled to the match venue.
This decision could potentially play a big part in determining the champions of the DStv Premiership. Chiefs could come as close as four points off Mamelodi Sundowns granted they win all their games in hand.
But Amakhosi have been blowing hot and cold for most of the season. Realistically, Amakhosi’s best bet will be to fight for the number two Champions League spot. It will take a dramatic fall by a very consistent Sundowns team for Baxter and his men to even come close.