The South African Football Association (SAFA) in the Cape Town region has resolved to resume amateur football – almost a year after the COVID-19 pandemic brought activities to a halt.

This follows the SAFA National directive earlier in the week which gave the green light for the resumption of football activities across the country – subject to strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols to mitigate the risk of spreading the virus, naturally.

SAFA Cape Town said all competitions under its jurisdiction – SAFA Regional Third Division (formerly known as SAB League), Regional Women’s League; Coca Cola Amateur Cup; The Dennis Goldberg Youth Cups for Under 14, Under 16 & Under 18; The Build IT Schools Tournament for Under 13; and the Local Football Associations (LFAs) – will commence over the next few months.

The Association has encouraged LFAs and club members to work through the various COVID-19 protocols and documents and said it would require a multi-disciplinary approach to return to play. 

“We have to ensure that we are compliant and that the lives of our members are protected,” Elton Lotriet, SAFA Cape Town general secretary, said in a statement on Friday.

“We have seen first-hand what this pandemic can do and hence it would be a balancing act just to return to play. We are seeing the excitement in returning to playing our favourite sport, so let us approach this with zeal and enthusiasm, but not forgetting that we need to flatten the curve and beat this pandemic as a nation.”

Lotriet added that the Association’s Regional Medical Committee is monitoring the current situation regarding COVID-19 and the third wave.

Training can resume on Monday 15 February 2021.

Leagues and competitions are scheduled to resume activities as follows:

• The Regional Third Division will commence on 26 March 2021.  The league will have two streams of nine teams each which will be determined by an open draw. The two teams finishing first in each stream will play a once off play off to determine the overall SAFA Cape Town Regional Third Division Champions. There will be no relegation this season.
• The commencement of the Regional Women’s League will be on 10 April 2021. A letter to be circulated inviting teams to participate in the league and thereafter the league format will be decided.
• The Coca Cola Amateur Cup for seniors, women and Under 18 will take place on 30 May 2021 starting with the preliminary matches.
• The Dennis Goldberg Youth Cups for Under 14, Under 16 & Under 18 will commence on 17 May 2021.
• The Build IT Schools Tournament for Under 13 will be taking place within the following host areas: Cape Gate, Bothasig, Table View, City, Strand, Ottery/Mitchells Plain, Belhar, Wynberg, Eerste River.
• As for Local Football Association Leagues, it was resolved that they commence from April 2021 in a staggered format.

“The REC resolved to develop a blue-print document across all sectors to assist LFAs and Clubs with the implementation of the COVID-19 Health & Safety Protocols and the return to play in conjunction with the Regional Medical Committee and all Standing Committees,” Lotriet added.

Player registration and the SAFA Cape Town Office will be opened within the next two weeks, starting in a staggered approach and commencing with the registration of players – in line with  the  latest  COVID-19 protocols in place for the protection of staff and the membership.