ABC Motsepe League side Gqeberha United have lost their noncompliance protest case against the Mighty Eagles for fielding over-aged players in their Nedbank Cup preliminary round semifinal.
Gqeberha accused the Eagles of breaching the tournament’s U23s rule, saying their opponents had nine over-aged players in their match in Mthatha three weeks ago.
“They started with eight or nine over-aged players. We told them before the game, [but] they went on to play them,” Gqeberha United manager Siyabonga Ngcunguta said at the time.
But their litigation has been set aside following a recent hearing.
The presiding officials at the sitting argued that the matter of age did not apply to the cup competition qualifiers according to the handbook.
The Eagles said they were always aware that the issue of age eligibility was discussed in a meeting behind closed doors attended by club owners and managers of ABC Motsepe teams before the qualifiers started.
This means the Eagles, who won 3-0 to advance on the day at the Walter Sisulu campus grounds, proceed to the final to face Matta Milan who won 1-0 against Ravens, who made the main Nedbank Cup draw last season.
Attempts to obtain comment from the Gqeberha United camp were unsuccessful by the time of publication.
According to a statement issued by Safa provincial executive officer Sikelela Mtangayi, the ABC Motsepe version final of the Nedbank will take place in Mthatha on Saturday (1pm).
And the winner will stand a chance to join Betway Premiership team Chippa United as the other Eastern Cape team in the last 32 of the cup competition.
That spot will be decided in a playoff match at the University of Fort Hare Dikeni campus on November 23 (1pm) between the Regional League and the ABC Motsepe League.
The University of Fort Hare, who ply their trade in the Amathole regional league, booked their final qualifiers berth after beating Nelson Mandela Bay’s Major Chiefs in Jeffreys Bay last weekend.
Now, either Matta Milan or Eagles will meet them to determine which becomes the second Eastern Cape team to qualify for the Nedbank Cup round of 32.
There are a handful of regional league teams, the fourth tier of SA football, who have booked their place in the Nedbank Cup.
Vaal University of Technology were the latest successful club in 2020, going as far beating Premiership team Golden Arrows.
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