By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Chippa United started the promotion/relegation play-offs with a 2-1 win over Richards Bay FC on Saturday afternoon.
Defender Sandile Mthethwa put Chippa ahead in the 50th minute in the non-televised game, midfielder Sizwe Mdlinzo making it 2-0 in the 82nd. Paseka Sekese pulled back a consolation for Richards Bay in the 90th.
The next game of the playoffs has been scheduled as Royal AM against Chippa at Chatsworth Stadium on Tuesday at 3pm.
This game could take place or not subject to court action.
Royal Am are still of the view that the Supreme Court of Appeal can grant them what they want.
“As indicated during the hearing [on Friday] of the application for leave to appeal heard before his Lordship Justice Sutherland DJP), and in view of the outcome thereof, we hold instructions to lodge an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal alternatively the full bench in terms of section 17(2)(b) of the Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013,” Mabuza Attorneys wrote to the league on Friday night.
Royal AM, however, succeeded twice this week to halt the start of the promotion/relegation playoffs after the PSL grudgingly acceded to the Durban club’s demand that playoffs, which were to kick off in Gqeberha on Thursday, be postponed.
The Premier Soccer League took a stand on Saturday as the promotion/relegation playoffs kicked off with Chippa United taking on Richards Bay.
In concluding their latest letter to the PSL, Royal AM said: “To the extent that your counsel made reference to ‘tomorrow’s [Saturday] playoff game” or words to that effect it should therefore be plain that any indulgence in such ‘a game’ will not only be futile but constitutes contempt of court as more fully explained in our letter dated June 16 2021.”