The dismal failure by the beleaguered Safa to pay prize monies to clubs competing in the ABC Motsepe League in the Free State has sparked an unprecedented riot.
On Friday, disgruntled clubs held a media briefing at the Mangaung Outdoor Sports Centre in Bloemfontein to announce the plan to boycott the upcoming 2023-’24 competition.
The clubs have threated to not honour any league fixtures, as a last resort to compel Safa to pay outstanding prize monies and R30 000 in subsidies for travelling.
The prize monies and subsidies are for the 2021-’22 and 2022-’23 seasons, during which teams say they struggled to make ends meet while waiting on Safa to make payment.
Clubs are lamenting the severe impact due to the continued lack of commitment to pay, despite their continual patience and sacrifice.
Safa reportedly owes clubs about R970 000 in unpaid travelling subsidies.
The ABC Motsepe League, running countrywide in the nine provinces, is being sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation.
“The league is sponsored, and therefore our expectation is that clubs should be paid what is due to them, whatever the prize,” said Adv. Machini Motloung, spokesperson for the clubs.
“We remain resolute and fearless in our demand that all clubs must be paid prize monies and subsidies due to them.
“It is bizarre that clubs are not paid their allowances, subsidies, and league prize monies, notwithstanding the league being sponsored by Motsepe Foundation.
“There are clubs who are yet to receive any payment for Nedbank prize monies, and Safa is not making any effort to address this appalling situation.”
Teams have since addressed to Safa a memorandum containing grievances impacting negatively on them.
In the midst of the media briefing, Mosa Dladla, Safa’s provincial executive officer, strongly warned teams against briefing the media and stressed the media gathering was illegal.
“The association will take disciplinary action against any club and officials who breach the rules and regulations of the association, and bring it and sponsors into disrepute,” said Dladla.
According to Dladla, the federation has paid the ABC Motsepe League teams’ travel subsidies for 2021-’22.
“We are also committed to paying the 2022-’23 season travel subsidies, and outstanding prize monies,” said Dladla.
However, clubs have disputed receiving any payment of travel subsidies at the time of going to print.
The looming boycott sees a continuation of the disarray that plagues the league. Evidence of this include legal disputes involving clubs and the association over issues arising from administration challenges to run the competition smoothly.
