SAFA Western Cape has vowed to defend the 2023 ABC Motsepe League Western Cape champions, Young Bafana, in the arbitration case involving finalists Zizwe United.

SAFA Western Cape has vowed to defend the 2023 ABC Motsepe League Western Cape champions, Young Bafana, in the arbitration case involving finalists Zizwe United.

This comes after Zizwe took the matter to SAFA national for arbitration following SAFA Western Cape’s decision to dismiss their complaint last week. 

In principle, the fuss concerns a Young Bafana player who allegedly played a Local Football Association match on 27 April, but also played for Young Bafana in the second leg of the ABC Motsepe League Western Cape final in Strand on 29 April.

The Young Bafanas beat FN Rangers on 15 April to win Stream A. The same weekend Zizwe also won Stream B. When the two stream winners met in the first leg of the final in Nyanga on 22 April, Zizwe beat their opponents 1-0. The second leg of the final was on 29 April, and the game ended 1-0 for Young Bafana. Bafana went on to win the league 3-2 on penalty shootouts.

Zizwe then lodged the complaint, which was dismissed by the league coordinator as “the complaint didn’t meet certain requirements” – according to SAFA Western Cape president Tankiso Modipa.

“I was on the field on the game day, and no complaint or protest was lodged with us. The status quo remains for now, and Young Bafana is the winner of the ABC Motsepe League in the Western Cape.”

The Western Cape is not the only province with issues around the ABC Motsepe League finals. But SAFA Western Cape is prepared to defend their decision. 

“We cannot predict the outcome of the arbitration case. We await SAFA national to set the date and venue to go and support Young Bafana and defend the province’s position. And we are confident that we will defend it successfully.”

The national playoffs of the ABC Motsepe League are scheduled to be played in KZN next month. Exact dates have yet to be confirmed.

Zizwe United could not discuss the matter further as the case is still pending. 

Young Bafana coach Ashraf Calvert said they knew that the complaint was dismissed but were not aware that the matter had been taken to SAFA national for arbitration. However, he said they are not bothered but were not bothered.  “We are not bothered with the case and we are carrying on with our preparations for the national play-offs as per normal. We are fully focused and don’t even talk about it”.