By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Orlando Pirates will face a Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee hearing on February 15 in the matter involving TS Galaxy owner Tim Sukazi.
Pirates have pleaded not guilty after they were charged with denying Sukazi access to areas of the Orlando Stadium to which he had accreditation, after which a scuffle broke out between Pirates and Galaxy officials.
The incident took place when the teams met in a DStv Premiership fixture on December 11.
The furore was caught on video and created embarrassing scenes for the PSL, whose prosecutor Zola Majavu says the matter has been postponed to the middle of next month, with Pirates media manager Thandi Merafe, a key witness, on duty at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
“Charges were formally put to Orlando Pirates, to which they pleaded not guilty,” Majavu said. “The matter had to be postponed for evidence to be led. One of the main witnesses for Orlando Pirates is out of the country on CAF business.
Under those circumstances, the committee deemed it prudent to grant the postponement to the 15th of February where the matter will resume and hopefully will be finalised. Once it is finalised, I’ll give a further outcome therefore.”
Pirates have also announced a new joint venture with one of the biggest smart devices brands, Oppo South Africa, as their mobile partner.
Oppo, who are known for their innovation, design and technology also partners with the likes of international football giants FC Barcelona and AC Milan, as well as the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the ICC World Cup.
This partnership is said to see both institutions create joint exclusive initiatives, with the aim of connecting and exciting all sports, tech, innovative and stylish South African supporters.
In one of their initiatives, they will engage with the Buccaneers fans whereby there will be the OPPO goal of the month competition, where the Ghosts will vote for their favourite goal scored by their and one lucky winner will walk away with a new Oppo phone.
Meanwhile, Golden Arrows’ verdict for fielding Simo Mbhele, who’s deemed as an ineligible player to play professional football after he didn’t get his international clearance from Portuguese outfit 1º Dezembro, was reserved by the DC.
“That matter was argued fully before the DC and judgement has been reserved. But as soon as judgement has been handed down by the DC, I’ll once again communicate it,”Majavu said in his closing remarks to the PSL media group.