Durban City already have one foot in the Betway Premiership after the case over star player Saziso Magawana who was reported to be “ineligible”, was dismissed by the PSL dispute resolution chamber (DRC) on Tuesday night. The protest, which was lodged by JDR Stars, was dismissed with costs by the PSL.
However, City cannot celebrate yet as another protest, regarding the same player, was lodged by relegated Cape Town Spurs on Monday night. The Spurs protest will be heard on Wednesday afternoon at 4:00pm. So, this means that Durban City are still not home and dry until the merits of the Spurs case are tabled and heard.
The PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu confirmed the latest developments on Tuesday night: “I can confirm that the PSL DC concluded a protest that was launched by JDR Stars against Durban City in respect of a player Magawana. Having listened to the evidence presented by the protesting club and submissions made by all parties, the DC dismissed that protest with costs to be paid by the protesting club, JDR,” said Majavu.
“The effect of that decision is that the PSL DC found nothing wrong with the registration of Magawana by Durban City and to the extent he was fielded against JDR Stars there was no wrongdoing determined.
“However, late yesterday [Monday] afternoon we received a further protest from Cape Town Spurs against City in respect of the same Mr Magawana. That protest was also enrolled for tonight [Tuesday] immediately after the earlier one pertaining to JDR Stars. The legal representatives for Spurs requested the matter be postponed to tomorrow [Wednesday] to enable them to make their witness available. The league did not object to the request for the postponement and neither did Durban City. The matter is scheduled to proceed at 4.30pm tomorrow [Wednesday],” he added.
Majavu also assured football followers that the normal proceedings and play-offs will not be disrupted by these cases and protests.
“I can also assure the football-loving public the league will do all it can to ensure its normal activities are not disrupted while respecting the rights of all those parties involved in these judicial proceedings. This is exactly why the league took the decision it did in respect of delaying the crowning of the champions over the weekend,” Majavu explained further.
