BY ERIC MATOME KGOMO
NKANGALA: The South African Football Association (SAFA), has given non-professional football permission to start training immediately. The announcement was made on Tuesday 9 February. However, the football association advised that strictly safety and health directives as per government regulations should be followed.
“While clubs can commence training with immediate effect, amateur football leagues and competitions will kick off at the beginning of March 2021,” said SAFA Head of Communications, Dominic Chimhavi. He said the resumption of amateur football will resume in stages according to a SAFA NEC circular sent out on Tuesday, 9 February 2021. “Clubs can commence training with immediate effect.
However, the SAFA Covid-19 Health and Safety Directive must be observed at all times. Amateur Leagues to resume beginning of March 2021,” Chimhavi said. He indicate that the association would like to appeal to clubs, SAFA Regions and SAFA Provincial Structures to adhere to the SAFA Covid-19 Health and Safety Directive at all times to mitigate the risk of spreading the virus. “The Association would like all amateur teams to develop registers for use during training sessions and matches. All teams must buy scanners for checking temperatures at all times and no spectators should be allowed at training sessions and matches,” Mhimhavi said.
The SAFA Mpumalanga ABC Motsepe League is gearing up looking for resumption of amateur football, following about a-year-long prohibition period, amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The league stated that players’ registration has now been extended up until 1 March 2021, with the league expected to kick-off on 6 March 2021. The league has held its draw on Zoom social media platform on Wednesday 10 February 2021 for the 18 teams that will be participating in the two streams in the province.
The league’s Stream A is scheduled as follows: Gembok Classic, Witbank C Lads, Kriel F Academy Barberton City Stars, Sivutsa stars, Kanyamazane All Stars, Passion, Mpumalanga United and Lekwa City. Teams to take in Stream B will be: Bayern, Witbank Sheppered, Mbombela City Lads, VOC Unites, Secunda M Stars, Tjakastaad Junior Sheppered, Mlambo Royal Cubs, Elshaddai United and Mpumalanga Young Eagles. To determine provincial winner, the number one teams from each stream will play each other in the provincial play-off matches.
“SAFA and Club owners are currently grounded as to outline plan of action on how best and effective can the league start and be completed within the proposed deadline of May 2021,” reads the SAFA Mpumalanga ABC Motsepe League statement.
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