Sinenkani FC left in limbo as court ruling delay clouds NFD kickoff

Sinenkani had successfully challenged SAFA’s decision to exclude Eastern Cape and Limpopo teams from the national play-offs. 

Despite an interim court order to halt the playoffs, SAFA proceeded to finish them and promote teams. 

A court case was heard before three judges on the fifth and sixth of this month, and Sinenkani Chairman Nathi Nqoko expressed concern about the delays.

"We are still positive that justice will be done and we want to then appeal to the judges because all parties including judges, we agreed that this matter is urgent and it needs to be finalised,” Nqoko said.

“Hence the appointment of three judges to deal with the matter because we wanted that, anyone who's not happy should just go to the supreme court of Bloemfontein instead of trying to appeal internally. 

“So, we are hopeful that maybe today because sometimes judgements are issued on Tuesdays, we are hopeful that maybe the judgement will be issued. However, we are honestly in a very difficult situation now because of the urgency of the matter in terms of our presentation.

“We even said the fixture of the NFD has been issued, it's starting on the 22nd of August then we had two weeks to finalise everything, now we are left with about two days. So, we feel that judges must also do justice because the court also has a responsibility to make sure that justice has been done."

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ABC Motsepe League national champions Gomora United (Gauteng), Midlands Wanderers (KwaZulu-Natal) and The Bees (Mpumalanga), are the three teams that have been promoted to the National First Division, and they are already scheduled to play on Friday. 

Nqoko says it will not be wise to continue with the fixtures of these teams until the court case is over.

"The main, main challenge is that we are left with a few days for the NFD to start but we are still positive because even if the NFD can start, we are of the view that not all teams that are in the NFD will be affected,” he explained.

“So, what PSL or NSL can do in this situation now, I think is to, if the judgement comes out in our favour, the simplest thing to do is to make sure that all fixtures that affects the team that were promoted through the illegal process, all those fixtures in our view can be suspended up until legal play offs are convened and are finalised. 

“We are in a very difficult situation, remember we have been keeping the boys at the camp since April, May, there is a lot that is happening but we are hopeful that justice will be done in this case."