Manonyane are crying fraud in front of the Disputes and Protests Committee (DISPROCO) in an attempt to save their Vodacom Premier League lives. Manonyane were relegated from the elite division last Saturday after finishing the season second from bottom with 19 points. The Roma side ended with the same number of points as CCX and ACE Maseru above them but this season the league used head-to-head as a tiebreaker and Manonyane’s relegation has been ratified by the Premier League Management Committee (PLMC).
This content is for subscribers only. To subscribe, Click Here. Or Sign In
Desperate to remain in the premiership, Manonyane are appealing a 2-0 loss to Liphakoe on May 11, which pushed them towards the top-flight trap-door.
Manonyane claim Liphakoe used an illegal player and are demanding the game’s three points, which, of course, would revive them from the dead.
The player in the middle of the messy fight is Thabang Mofihli whom Manonyane say is a defaulter registered by A-Division side, Roma Boys.
Manonyane filed a protest against Liphakoe and DISPROCO heard the case on Tuesday evening. Manonyane’s survival depends on the outcome.
It is believed that the drama was started by a Roma Boys scout who allegedly informed Manonyane after the May 11 loss that Liphakoe were using a player registered by Roma Boys.
Roma Boys president, Moiloa Manyeli ,confirmed the club registered Mofihli at the beginning of the season, and that he did the registering of players himself.
However, in a twist, Manyeli admitted he did not know who Mofihli was and neither did any of the club’s coaches. Manyeli said Mofihli went to Roma Boys’ training only once during the pre-season.
Manyeli said Mofihli was brought to the club by their scout and he had all of his documents with him. The player was never seen again but the club registered him anyway.
However, Mofihli has never played for Roma Boys, Manyeli said.
When Manonyane lost 2-0 to Liphakoe two weeks ago, the scout saw Mofihli in action and alerted Manonyane that Mofihli was “his player” and that he should not be
playing for Liphakoe.
Manonyane filed a case that same week.
When speaking to a local radio station this week, Manonyane spokesperson Mpo Ramokotjo claimed the club knew about the player a long time ago and had seen him play for Roma Boys.
That is surprising because Mofihli was with Limkokwing University before moving to Liphakoe, and Roma Boys say he has never played for them.
Nevertheless, whom Mofihli was with or whether he played for Roma Boys is not the argument.
The bone of contention is that the player was registered by two teams at the same time.
Both Manonyane and Liphakoe have presented their sides of the story and are now waiting for the outcome.
Liphakoe have little to lose in the case.
Even if they are found guilty, their fortunes will not change. However, the Quthing side insist they saw the player at open trials during pre-season and then followed the proper procedures to transfer him from Limkokwing University.
Whether they have convinced the DISPROCO with their evidence remains to be seen.
The player himself is said to be furious with Roma Boys.
He is said to have reacted angrily when he found out he was registered by a Roma team that has now been relegated to the B-Division and insisted he would not play for a relegated team.
If Manonyane wins the case at DISPROCO, one of CCX or ACE Maseru will go down.
The PLMC has refused to confirm which of the two it would be.
This season the PLMC is using teams’ head-to-head records instead of goal difference as a tiebreaker. Interestingly, goal difference would have saved Manonyane from relegation and CCX would have been demoted instead.
However, with Manonyane, CCX and ACE Maseru all tied on 19 points, it was Manonyane who were relegated from the Vodacom Premier League because of their inferior head-to-head between the three teams.
It is unclear when DISPROCO’s verdict will be out.
For now, Manonyane are joining last-placed Naughty Boys on the way down to the second tier.
Tlalane Phahla
