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Safa Gert Sibande dispute heats up

A NASTY battle is looming between members of the Gert Sibande Safa region after their president deemed them "not representatives of the region".

A NASTY battle is looming between members of the Gert Sibande Safa region after their president deemed them "not representatives of the region".

Fanyana Sibanyoni, president of the region, told Sowetan yesterday that Dan Soko and William Kgomo, who with others said they do not recognise the current Safa leadership, were voted out as Gert Sibande executive members in 2006. But Kgomo has rejected Sibanyoni's claims that he is no longer a member.

"I am shocked that Sibanyoni, as the president, says he does not recognise me as a member of the Gert Sibande region. He wanted us to vote for a certain camp during the Safa elections, but I refused and that is where the problem started.

"He had told us before the elections who to vote for but I disagreed with him. I find it strange that he ran to the media and said I'm no longer a member of the Gert Sibande region because until recently I have been their treasurer and I can prove it," Kgomo said.

He also issued a warning to Sibanyoni that no one is invincible, and he could easily be removed as president.

"No one is bigger than football and no one is going to chase us away from football. My message to Sibanyoni is: you know the strategy and tactics I used to make you president, and I will not hesitate to use the very same tactics to oust you as president."

He also appealed to the current Safa leadership to help them sort out their problems.

"If there is a dispute, we expect you to listen to the issue and hear two sides of the story. We need a mediator who is not biased."

Sibanyoni said he was not bothered by Kgomo's threats to oust him : "Kgomo is in dreamland and he seems to forget that football is not like politics . He is not a member of my committee and he will never be."

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