Latest news with #ZolaMajavu
TimesLIVE
02-06-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Protests against Durban City dismissed, KZN team officially promoted
Durban City are finally the official champions of the Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC) and promoted to the Betway Premiership after an arbitration dismissed two cases against the Durban team. City clinched the MFC with their 2-0 win against Cape Town Spurs at Athlone Stadium on May 18. That result also condemned Spurs — the club formerly known as Ajax Cape Town, who were relegated form the Premiership in 2023-24 — to relegation from the MFC. However, the trophy and prize money were not presented to City — formerly Maritzburg United, who relocated to Durban and renamed ahead of the 2024-25 season. That was because there was a case pending by seventh-placed finishers JDR Stars over the proper registration and eligibility of City winger Saziso Magawana by the KwaZulu-Natal team. That case was dismissed by the Premier Soccer League's (PSL) disciplinary committee (DC) on May 20, however PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu revealed a further case was brought to the DC by Spurs.
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
PSL crisis deepens as Motsepe Foundation Championship dispute halts promotion play-offs
The eligibility of Durban City's Saziso Magawana is under scrutiny as the NFD awaits to see who will be promoted and relegated from the league. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The PSL's reputation and operational integrity hang in the balance as stakeholders grapple with uncertainty, while disputes surrounding the Motsepe Foundation Championship (National First Division) escalate daily. Two weeks ago, the PSL announced that the promotion-relegation play-offs would commence on Tuesday. However, this will not go ahead due to a tense standoff involving teams who claim that the Championship winners, Durban City, fielded an improperly registered player, Saziso Magawana, during the season. Cape Town Spurs and the Tshwane-based JDR Stars are the Championship clubs leading the legal challenge. Last week, the PSL's disciplinary committee dismissed JDR Stars' case. The PSL prosecutor, advocate Zola Majavu, confirmed the dismissal but stated that the club could appeal the outcome, which Stars promptly did. Majavu said: "Out of an abundance of caution, the league, represented by myself as the prosecutor, directed all parties that in the event they wished to exercise their appeal rights, such appeals must be referred directly and immediately to arbitration.' The following day, the PSL's disciplinary committee was scheduled to hear Spurs' protest. However, Spurs' legal team objected to the same PSL officials presiding over their case. As a result, both JDR Stars' appeal and Spurs' protest will be heard by the arbitration board of Safa on Tuesday. The timeline for this intervention remains unclear, adding further strain to an already charged atmosphere. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ These latest developments mean that the NFD champions cannot be confirmed, and their promotion cannot be validated. The outcome of the arbitration may determine the final log positions of all the teams and who will participate in the promotion play-offs. The matter of automatic NFD relegation is also unresolved. Currently, Spurs and Leruma United will drop to the Safa Second Division but it is possible that City not only lose the championship, but are also relegated. Complicating matters further is the non-decision regarding the outcome of the SuperSport United vs Golden Arrows Betway Premiership fixture. The match was postponed in late February due to load-shedding and was suspended at 1–1. United currently occupy the promotion/relegation play-off spot in the elite division, one point behind Cape Town City. A win against Arrows would see Matsatsantsa a Pitori leapfrog the Citizens and avoid the humiliation of contesting the play-offs. Earlier this week, following their final game of the season, interim City coach Diogo Peral criticised the situation, saying: 'It's a bit of a joke actually, but it is what it is ... We're planning for the play-offs, watching the opposition we'll be coming up against, and we've already travelled to watch some of their games, so the planning is well on the way already.' If the arbitration process maintains the status quo, City would face Orbit College and Casric Stars in the mini-league. Nonetheless, in recent weeks, various clubs have raised concerns about the integrity of the current standings, prompting calls for immediate intervention. The ramifications of these disputes affect not only the teams involved but also leave club owners anxious about their future in the league.
News24
25-05-2025
- Sport
- News24
SA soccer protests: This movie keeps repeating itself
Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix Last-minute protests take away the shine from deserving teams. Durban City's celebrations were put on hold after allegations surfaced of an improperly registered player. PSL DC dismissed JDR Stars' complaint. There's a saying that I like: 'The more things change, the more they stay the same.' This rings true with the shenanigans we are now accustomed to every time the domestic soccer season is about to end. It will not be a campaign without the last-minute drama of protests as clubs try everything to wrestle points from others, via the boardroom. Same script, just different personnel. It's almost guaranteed that complaints will surface, even in the last fixture of the season. We all know that PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu works overtime as he tries to adjudicate these cases. I have seen this movie before. What a damp squib. It is mind-boggling to see this conveniently happening every season, particularly after each campaign. Although there is nothing wrong with lodging protests, waiting until the last minute raises eyebrows. Is this a last resort to gain valuable points, perhaps? It's always been the case with the Motsepe Foundation Championship, whose image is brought into disrepute at the culmination of each campaign. I might be wrong, but this makes a mockery of the system. The only good thing is that the cases are formally prosecuted by competent tribunals, where the aggrieved parties are given a fair chance to argue their cases. The fact that there's a formal process for lodging protests and a disciplinary committee to address these issues suggests that the PSL has a structured mechanism for resolving disputes. This contributes to a perception of fairness and transparency. Protests in football, by their nature, can have varying effects on the league's image, depending on the context and the reasons behind these disputes. Most protests have been over player eligibility, and this can help ensure that teams adhere to the rules and regulations, maintaining the league's integrity. This is crucial for fans' trust and engagement. However, it is baffling that they only happen at the end of the campaign when the alleged misconduct has been happening throughout the season. This doesn't augur well for the image of the league. As much as it promotes transparency and fairness, it could also have negative implications, particularly with public perception. Repeated or contentious protests might give the impression that the league is plagued by disputes or its rules are not clear enough, potentially deterring the fans and sponsors. Whether we like it or not, these protests are not only overshadowing the sporting aspects of the league, but they are also affecting the overall image of the league. But, while protests can catalyse the necessary discussions and improvements, the questions are: Are these protests legitimate or are they driven by other motivations? At this rate, those who complain are turning our football into a circus. It's boring now. Taking away the excitement I mean, it takes away the excitement and affects the celebrations. My heart bleeds for Durban City, who could not celebrate winning the NFD title, which secured them a spot in the Betway Premiership. They were not handed the trophy, with their promotion put on hold following a protest about the ineligibility of their player, Saziso Magawana. Later in the week, the PSL disciplinary committee dismissed JDR Stars' case after they alleged that Magawana had been improperly registered. A similar case by Cape Town Spurs has been referred to arbitration. While City could be crowned champions after all this drama, it will not be the same as celebrating the win on the pitch. Football is played on the field and not in the boardroom, and the sooner everyone knows and understands this, the better.
TimesLIVE
20-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
JDR protest over City's Magawana dismissed, further DC by Spurs emerges
The protest over the ineligibility of a Durban City player was dismissed by the Premier Soccer League's (PSL) disciplinary committee (DC) on Tuesday night, however the KwaZulu-Natal club cannot celebrate being Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC) victors just yet. City clinched the MFC title on Sunday with their 1-0 final-round win against Cape Town Spurs at Athlone Stadium, however were not handed the trophy and confirmation of their promotion to the Betway Premiership was put on hold pending various DC matters. The result condemned second-last-placed Spurs — formerly Ajax Cape Town — to relegation to the third tier ABC Motsepe League a year after dropping from the Premiership. PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu said a protest lodged by seventh-placed finishers JDR Stars that City had improperly registered Saziso Magawana was dismissed by the DC on Tuesday night. However, he revealed Spurs had brought a further protest over the same player on Monday and that matter was postponed to Wednesday. 'I can confirm that a short while ago the PSL DC concluded a protest that was launched by JDR Stars against Durban City in respect of a player, Mr Magawana,' Majavu said on Tuesday night. 'Having listened to the evidence presented by the protesting club and submissions made by all parties, the DC dismissed that protest with costs to be paid by the protesting club, JDR. 'The effect of that decision is that the PSL DC found nothing wrong with the registration of Magawana by Durban City and to the extent he was fielded against JDR Stars there was no wrongdoing determined. 'However, late yesterday [Monday] afternoon we received a further protest from Cape Town Spurs against City in respect of the same Mr Magawana. That protest was also enrolled for tonight [Tuesday] immediately after the earlier one pertaining to JDR Stars. 'The legal representatives for Spurs requested the matter be postponed to tomorrow [Wednesday] to enable them to make their witness available. 'The league did not object to the request for the postponement and neither did Durban City. The matter is scheduled to proceed at 4.30pm tomorrow. 'Out of an abundance of caution the league, represented by myself, directed all parties involved that in the event they wished to exercise their appeal rights, such appeals must be referred directly to arbitration, which has full and final effect. 'All the parties have indicated they would abide by that directive. I will give a further update on the protest by Spurs tomorrow. 'I can also assure the football-loving public the league will do all it can to ensure its normal activities are not disrupted while respecting the rights of all those parties involved in these judicial proceedings. 'This is exactly why the league took the decision it did in respect of delaying the crowning of the champions over the weekend.' The PSL will hope any appeals do not delay the start of the promotion-relegation playoffs that begin on May 27. City chair Farook Kadodia has also complained the DC matter is delaying his club's ability to begin to plan, prepare and build a competitive squad for the next season's Premiership.
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Promoted Durban City cleared over player protest
'The PSL dismissed that protest with costs to be paid by ... JDR Stars,' said PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu JDR Stars and Cape Town Spurs have both protested over Saziso Magawana's right to play for Durban City. Picture: Backpageix Durban City look to be free to prepare for life in the Betway Premiership after a Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee (PLS DC) decided on Tuesday that they were entitled to field midfielder Saziso Magawana in a game against JDR Stars. ALSO READ: Pirates' Nkota strikes to take down SuperSport 'The PSL DC concluded a protest launched by JDR Stars, having listened to the evidence … the PSL dismissed that protest with costs to be paid by … JDR Stars. The PSL found nothing wrong with the registration of Mr Magawana,' said PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu. Spurs protest against Durban City moved to Wednesday Majavu added that the PSL had received a protest over the same player from Cape Town Spurs. That matter was also suppsoed to be heard on Tuesday as well. 'Legal representatives from Cape Town Spurs requested the matter to be postponed to tomorrow (Wednesday) to make their witness available,' added Majavu. 'That matter is scheduled to proceed tomorrow at 4.30 pm, whereafter a decision will hopefully be made regarding that protest.' Majavu added that there was still provision for JDR Stars to appeal the PSL's decision. 'As it stands (that case) currently stands as dismissed,' added Majabu, however. It seems unlikely Spurs would get any different result from their protest than Stars. Magawana joined Durban City for the 2024/25 season. The protests have arisen from the fact that it was Marumo Gallants that issued his clearance, and not Leruma United, who had bought the first division status of Gallants. Spurs' case looks increasingly desperate given that a 1-0 loss to Durban City on the weekend meant that they were relegated to the third tier of South African football. 'Respecting the rights' The PSL did take the step of not handing the Motsepe Foundation Trophy over to Durban City after Sunday's game. 'I will give a furher update on Cape Town Spurs after tomorrow,' added Majavu. ALSO READ: Midfielder headed for Pirates exit 'I can also assure football loving consumers that the league is doing all it can to make sure normal activities are not disrupted, while respecting the rights of all parties involved. This is precisely why the league took the decision in respect of delaying the crowning of the champions.'
