Limpopo schools used ineligible players

SANLAM Kay Motsepe Cup Limpopo champions Khaiso High School is set to forfeit R100 000 after it was found guilty of fielding players who are not registered with the Polokwane school.

The school was on Tuesday disqualified from the national event and will now have to hand back money they received after winning the provincial tournament.

The school had booked them a place in the national championship that is currently under way.

As if the province hasn't suffered enough disgrace, provincial runners-up OR Tambo High School have also been booted out of the tournament for a similar offence.

South African Schools Football Association president Mandla Mazibuko yesterday confirmed the disqualification of the two Limpopo schools.

"The disciplinary committee found that the two schools used players who are not registered with the schools and some of those players are not even attending school at all," Mazibuko said.

"The two violated the organisation's rules and will be suspended from participating in any Sasfa competition for two years. The other three years is suspended.

"There is no way we can allow cheats and defaulters in our competitions. This is about football development and such acts defeat the purpose."

The two schools have a chance to appeal the sentence within 72 hours after the sentencing.

It is not the first time the tournament has been brought into disarray.

Five schools were disqualified for a similar transgression at the national event, held at the University of Limpopo.

Fingers are being pointed at the Limpopo Sasfa chairperson Patrick Mabasa who is said to be focusing more on Safa at the expense of Sasfa activities.

"If Mabasa showed interest in Sasfa activities he would have detected the problem at the provincial level after Benny's Sports Academy raised a concern," a source said yesterday.

"But Mabasa's committee ignored the protest. He should decide whether he is with Safa or Sasfa because the latter is suffering."

Mabasa was elected chairperson of the Vhembe region of Safa at the annual general meeting earlier this month during which the committee ignored the advice of the federation's chief executive to postpone the elections.

Sowetan, however, has learnt that the controversially elected committee will be dissolved today.

Mabasa, who is also chairperson of the Sasfa competitions committee refused to comment yesterday and referred Sowetan back to our source for more information.