Chiefs players in a huddle. Image via Kickoff

Chiefs players in a huddle. Image via Kickoff

Chiefs confident over favourable arbitration outcome

Kaizer Chiefs Marketing Director Jessica Motaung believes Amakhosi did the right thing in postponing matches during December.

Chiefs players in a huddle. Image via Kickoff

Chiefs players in a huddle. Image via Kickoff

Chiefs were unable to honour two league matches against Golden Arrows and Cape Town City towards the end of last year due to a widespread Covid-19 outbreak at their headquarters in Naturena. The ongoing matter related to the missed matches in December will go before a disciplinary committee on Friday.

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The PSL eventually announced that they had rejected Chiefs’ request to postpone the games, and the disciplinary hearing was originally set for 21 January. However, PSL Prosecutor Zola Majavu revealed that Amakhosi had referred the matter to arbitration at the SA Football Association (Safa), and the disciplinary hearing was subsequently postponed.

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Advocate Nassir Cassim SC has been appointed as the arbitrator in the matter, with the DC matter postponed pending the outcome of the arbitration.

PSL Prosecutor Zola Majavu has now confirmed that the matter will be heard by the disciplinary committee on Friday, even though it’s expected that it will be postponed again.

However, Motaung is confident that Chiefs will be able to prove their case, and has suggested that the match postponements were necessary.

“We are confident of winning the case because we followed the laws and did what was best for everyone,” Motaung said, as quoted by the Daily Sun.

“We look forward to winning the case, and we have nothing to worry about. The case is ongoing, but we followed the rules of the country.

“We care about our players and the opposition, and Covid-19 put us under pressure, and we could not risk our team.”

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Chiefs are currently fifth on the DStv Premiership standings, but have only played 17 games

Recently, coach Stuart Baxter has called for flexibility when it comes to the arbitration ruling related to Chiefs’ missed matches in December.

Baxter has opened about the pending ruling, and stated it’s important that the PSL takes into consideration how other leagues have adapted their rules during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Majavu has explained why the matter is likely to be postponed again.

“I can confirm that the matter concerning Kaizer Chiefs will indeed be before the DC on the 25th of February, 2022, where after it may well be postponed further on the basis that the arbitration has yet to be finalised. However, the matter must still be ventilated before the PSL DC to then further directives as it may deem fit,” Majavu explained, as quoted by Soccer Laduma.

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