Trouble is brewing for Marumo Gallants following their decision to field Monde Mphambaniso, who was ineligible to play owing to failure to obtain a clearance certificate.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa bought Moroka Swallows' Premier Soccer League status at the end of the 2023/24 season. However, they might have overlooked the need to ensure all players are cleared to play for them.
Last season, the 32-year-old played 20 games in the PSL, and a total of 25 matches across all competitions with a return of two goals. Gallants managed to finish 10th in the league with 32 points.
Cape Town City finished 15th with 27 points, just above relegated Royal AM who had been expelled. In the playoffs, the Citizens lost to Orbit FC who managed to top the mini-league that also involved Casric Stars.
Gallants guilty of fielding an ineligible player
City have since sued Gallants for illegally playing Mphambaniso in the South African top tier. The initial ruling has favoured the Cape Town-based outfit.
‘The distinguishing feature of this complaint apropos the other two complaints is the lack of a clearance certificate in respect of the player, Monde Mphambaniso (“MM”). There is no dispute that there was no clearance certificate issued in respect of MM from the club for whom MM played in the 2023/2024 football season,” read part of the ruling from Senior Council Nazeer Cassim.
“City’s complaint is that Gallants is guilty of a violation of rule 31.8.9.3 of the League’s Handbook which requires a clearance certificate to be submitted to the League in the case of a player previously registered as a professional with a member club.”
Gallants might be fined up to R2 million for playing Mpambaniso, as well as forfeiting the matches he featured. The midfielder may also be sanctioned for that offense.
The PSL, that is planned to start on August 8, might be rescheduled to another date, which will affect all the teams in the top tier and possibly the second one.
