Golden Arrows found guilty of using ineligible player, could be docked points

Golden Arrows have been found guilty of fielding an ineligible player but will not learn their fate until after a 20 January hearing.

Premier Soccer League prosecutor Zola Majavu confirmed this week that the league has charged Golden Arrows for fielding Simo Mbhele.

Golden Arrows found guilty of using ineligible player

Mbhele was allegedly registered as a player on the books of Portuguese outfit SU 1º Dezembro while turning out for Golden Arrows.

Arrows fielded the player in six league assignments and in both legs of their MTN 8 semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns.

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Golden Arrows could face a season-breaking sanction over the offences as they could potentially be docked points for every match that Mbhele played for them.

“I can confirm that Golden Arrows have been charged. The charges relate to the fielding of an ineligible player in the name of Mr Brighton Simo Mbhele. That particular case has been enrolled for hearing on the 20th of January at 18h00,” Majavu said.

Mbhele has not joined back up with the Portuguese club at this stage but has reportedly ceased training with Golden Arrows.

Not properly cleared

It is understood that while Mbhele was given clearance to rejoin a semi-professional club in Durban, he was not in possession of the proper clearances when he was picked up by Golden Arrows.

“He [Mbhele] is a South African player who played for one of the junior Safa League clubs in KZN before moving to Portugal [he was playing for the KZN Football Academy],’’ a source close to the league’s dealings told Times Live.

“When he came back to SA from Portugal, he never got his international clearance from Portugal. Safa issued him with a clearance to play for his old club down in Durban and that club sold the player to Arrows. He couldn’t be properly registered.’

“He has played a lot of game [six in the league and two in the MTN8] with Arrows. If you look at what happened with the Ndoro case, the games he [Mbhele] featured in will be awarded to the opposition.

“If they won any points with him playing, they stand to lose those points. In the matches they lost there’ll be monetary sanction. In case of a draw, other team will get two more points.’’