By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Cape Town Spurs coach Ernst Middendorp says Moroka Swallows should be expelled from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) after their failure to honour their last two DStv Premiership fixtures.
The club is failing to meet its R4.2 million monthly salary bill as revealed by club chairman David Mogashoa.
Middendorp, who has been in charge of more than 400 games in South African football plus coached in the Bundesliga, says the way to deal with the matter is clear.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s not possible, if the executive committee (of the Premier Soccer League) or the Board of Governors are not stepping in and make it very clear, you cannot fail your obligation as a club.”
Middendorp said there was no excuse for the Birds pulling out of two matches at the end of the year against Mamelodi Sundowns and Lamontville Golden Arrows after a pay dispute with their players.
“They get paid (a grant) to pay the players or to use the money for the right things. There is only one way. Done, done. You are not having the right anymore to stay in the league. You have not allowed any more to be part of this PSL league.
“That’s my personal opinion. But (what happened) it is laughable.”
The PSL have yet to make any statement on charges and possible sanction for Swallows but they are the first club in PSL history who have failed to fulfil a fixture. The last time it happened was in the old National Soccer League in 1984 when already relegated Royal Tigers did not travel to Cape Town for their last game of the season against Hellenic.
The PSL rules say: “Where a match is not played because of the late or non-arrival of a Member Club team, or of both teams, the offending Member Club or Member Clubs will be charged with misconduct.”
If they are found guilty the “opponent in that match will receive a “walk-over” (a 3-0 win), unless the Disciplinary Committee considers that a different sanction may be more appropriate”.
Earlier this month, Swallows lost 2-1 to SuperSport United at Dobsonville Stadium, and coach Steve Khompela said afterwards they played the match with the players not having trained for 10 days over a pay dispute. The coach said he had to intervene personally to get the players to honour the fixture.