Mcelwa Nchabeleng

Mcelwa Nchabeleng

The Premier Soccer League (PSL's) disciplinary committee has reserved judgment in the bribery case against FC AK to give the team and accusers Mpumalanga Black Aces ample time to prepare for their final submissions on Monday.

The DC is likely to give the verdict on the day.

Zola "Javas" Majavu, the league's prosecutor, told Sowetan yesterday that the evidence between the two parties had been completed after a three-day hearing that started on Monday.

Seven witnesses were called in from both clubs to give evidence.

The witnesses included Bahumi boss Aziz Kara, who is accused of having tried to bribe Aces goalkeeper Michel Babale to throw their National First Division match on December 23 last year.

FC AK, who have qualified for the promotion playoffs, won that match 2-1 at Atlantic Stadium in Witbank.

In his affidavit, which is in possession of Sowetan, Babale, the former FC AK goalie, claimed that Kara promised him R20000 to throw the match.

Babale also claimed that Kara deposited R10000 of the promised R20000 into his bank account to do the job.

Sowetan is also in possession of Babale's bank statement, which showed that R10 000 was deposited into his account on December 18.

Babale had a paltry R44,35 in his account before the deposit. A sum of R1 000 was immediately withdrawn from the account on the same day and a further purchase of R1070,10 was made at a Dischem store.

Further withdrawals and transactions from "the exhibit" were made the following days and Babale's balance on New Year's eve stood at R62,98.

The case has attracted huge interest from club officials and football enthusiasts alike who are waiting for the outcome with bated breath.

Majavu would not pre-empt the outcome of the case yesterday, but he hinted that it would not have an adverse effect on next month's playoffs.