Zacharia Nale
SEDIBENG. – Once again there will be no teams from Sedibeng that will be promoted to the ABC Motsepe League in the new season. This was after NWU Vaal FC failed at the Safa Regional Promotional Play-offs which came to an end at Reiger Park in Johannesburg over the weekend. Hopes were high among local soccer fans and football administrators that at least this time around this region would produce a team to campaign in the ABC Motsepe League in the new season. If NWU Vaal were promoted it could have seen three teams from this region campaigning in the ABC Motsepe League in the new season. The two teams that currently campaign in the ABC Motsepe League from this region are Vaal Professionals and Moroka Swallows (formerly Orange Vaal Professionals FC). However, it should be noted that these two teams did not gain promotion as they bought their statuses. Last season Metro Stars FC also failed to gain promotion when they also failed at the Safa Regional Play-offs.
Back to NWU Vaal FC: This institutional football club played to a 1 – 1 draw against Mamelodi Eleven FC before they lost 3 – 2 to Orlando Pirates which saw both teams gain promotion to the ABC Motsepe League.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, NWU Vaal FC football Manager/Coach, Thomas Thema said he was very disappointed with the officiating which resulted in the team’s failure to gain promotion. Thema was convinced that if it wasn’t for the poor officiating they could have won the two games.
“Look we are not bad losers but we feel that the officiating was not up to the standard, especially against certain teams including NWU Vaal FC. We have already demanded a meeting with Safa representatives concerning this matter because we felt that we were not protected. We were treated like we were the ‘step-child’ of Safa and maybe we will reconsider our relationship with Safa after what transpired over the weekend,” concluded Thema.
