The long-awaited Eastern Cape ABC Motsepe decider finally took place on Sunday afternoon, with FC Ravens being crowned champions after beating Amavarara 4-0 at the Rhodes University grounds.
But there is a shadow over Ravens’ celebration as the Makhanda high court had instructed that the game be played under protest pending finalisation of Sinenkani FC’s application to declare the game null and void.
The review is set to be heard on Wednesday morning.
There has been a protracted battle regarding the stream winners between table-topping teams Sinenkani and Ravens.
Sinenkani initiated a case, claiming the match commissioner for their match against Ravens in January, Thenjana Mbangatha, had a son playing for the Ravens side, which was in breach of Safa’s rules..
They took the matter to the Mthatha high court, which ordered it to be heard by the disciplinary committee.
Advocate Olebile Makompo, who chaired the matter at Safa House in in May, said Ravens’ 1-0 win should be forfeited.
But on Tuesday last week, Ravens were deemed not to have been blameworthy by arbitrator Tsietsi Ramatsekisa.
This is what triggered Sinenkani to instruct their lawyers to file an urgent court application for review.
On the field, it was one-way traffic on Sunday with Ravens’ goals in the first half coming courtesy of Athini Maqokolo and Samkelo Ngcungama, while Ndumiso Ngubane and Ntando Mbangatha ensured the Bizana-based team got the job done in the second stanza.
The win earned them the right to represent the province in the national playoffs in the first week of July.
Three of the best teams in those playoffs are expected to be promoted to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
Ravens head coach Sibusiso Mapompo was delighted with being crowned provincial champions.
“Amavarara were a difficult team to play against, they proved that all season in their group,” Mapompo said on Khiwas Media.
“They missed some first-choice personnel in their defensive line, for which we had planned.
“That allowed us to put pressure on them. I am happy with the job the boys did.”
If there are no further complications behind closed doors on Wednesday, Mapompo will prepare for yet another stint in the national playoffs.
He was there as the mentor of Eastern Cape team Spear of the Nation in 2022.
Gqeberha’s Highbury were the last Eastern Cape team to win the national playoffs, in 2024, and be elevated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship, where they finished ninth.
There was much fanfare at the Makhanda university on Sunday, with the playoffs of the Safa Regional League teams taking place.
Fast Eleven, Old Grey, Maru and Bizana Pondo City were all promoted to the ABC Motsepe League.
Daily Dispatch
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