Setshedi charged with match-fixing

A FORMER Bafana Bafana assistant coach was yesterday released on R10,000 bail after being arrested on allegations of match-fixing in Cape Town on Wednesday.

Known as "Mr Jones" during his playing days, Phil Rakhange Setshedi was ordered to return to court in Cape Town onSeptember 9.

Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela said Setshedi was arrested after police received a tip-off from the SA Football Association of possible match-fixing. The match in question was a Vodacom League national play-off featuring the Dan "Dance" Malesela-guided GaRankuwa United and Mpumalanga Sevutsa Stars.

Sevutsa, who must beat Johannesburg's Highlands Park today to gain promotion to the First Division, won the match 1-0.

"A member of the Hawks who posed as a match referee met the identified suspect at the Southern Sun Hotel in Cape Town," Polela said. "During this meeting, the suspect agreed that he would pay the agent in order to secure a win for Mpumalanga Sevutsa. The agent agreed to this.

"A follow-up meeting was arranged at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Wednesday where actual payment was expected to take place.

"The agent met the suspect at a restaurant in the V&A Waterfront. During this meeting the suspect handed an amount of R2000 to the agent. After the transaction was finalised the suspect was arrested," said Polela, adding that Setshedi is facing a charge of corruption.

The internationally renowned Sestshedi served as Bafana Bafana assistant coach when the team won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations.

Setshedi also played and coached Orlando Pirates.

In terms of the rules of the Vodacom League national play-offs, the winners of the inland and coastal streams will gain promotion to the First Division.

First Division League status is worth between R10 million and R15 million, with the Vodacom League one going for between R400,000 and R700,000.

Safa president Kirsten Nematandani and acting CEO Pinky Lehoko were not available for comment.