Introduction
PLFA is still awaiting SAFA with the complete instructions for returning to football. What has been released thus far is the allowance for the Inter-LFA Super League Play-offs and the strict adherence to health protocols. As PLFA we have sent a communication for clubs to start training, also with a general statement to adherence to the heath protocols.
Alert Level 3
We all cannot wait to get back to the thick of things, to playing and to getting on with our lives. But as you all might know, when President Ramaphosa first announced moving to the Adjusted Level 4 over a month ago, we were on Level 2. But when he reduced the alert level, he did not move us back to 2, but to 3. So we must accept that things will not automatically go back to where they were. There might be some restrictions prior to commencing. That is why we await SAFA to provide instrictions on this.
Enforcement of the Lease Agreement By City of Tshwane
We have learned with shock that as we prepare to go back to playing football, the City of Tshwane has unilaterally implemented the decision for the association to only use Mbolekwa Ground after a lease has been paid for. This indeed we find as totally unacceptable and an insult to the concept of enabling sports in Phelindaba. We are engaging that city about this matter and we will escalate as far as we can, but we will not relent until the city does what is correct.
The above means that temporarily all clubs that train at Mbolekwa Ground are affected. Also, if there were to be fixtures, like there is for Pheli Legends, such will be disrupted. However we are doing our best to resolve this matter. We will keep you updated.
Cashflow Issues
Prior to the closure of football in June 2021, the association experienced cashflow issues which resulted in some of the Match Officials not being paid. This is a crisis and we are working on it with the utmost vigor that it deserves.
We must however say that this issue could have been prevented with proactive management of the finances together with the scheduling of fixtures. There was a failure from the executive team as this problem was foreseen, reported on, but not acted upon. We are also looking at this failure and we will ensure that such will be prevented in the future.
The root cause however is that Members owe the association and are not paying their debts. In my last update from the outcomes of the Executive Committee meeting in May we have sought to address this issue. See the update here: https://plfa.org.za/outcomes-of-the-may-2021-executive-commitee-meeting/
Clubs that owe will not go back to the field when we resume. At the same time, their fixtures will not be put on hold. If the fixture comes and they still owe, they will forfeit the three points. The modalities of that will be discussed at the Leagues and Competitions Meeting of the 3rd of August 2021, as announced by the Leagues and Competitions Executive. This will assist the association with the cash flow in that Match Officials will not be appointed to the fixtures where one of, or both the teams still owe. That fixture will be deemed as played with points lost.
In the meantime, money will be sought to pay the remainder of the Match Officials by this Friday.
Unauthorised Competitions
As you may have known, and as mentioned here-above, we have not been given a green light to play by SAFA. As PLFA we have also not pronounced on that. Therefore we do not expect that there be any match unless approved appropriately.
Secondly, Members will remember that the association has a Football Competitions Policy. This means that any competitions hosted within the Jurisdiction of the Association must adhere to this policy.
We however have been informed that there was a competition, structured or otherwise, that took place this past weekend. We are investigating the veracity of such information. If found to be true, those who are found to have contravened our Rules, the Competitions Policy and the directives will be brought to a disciplinary process. I have already requested the Vice Chairperson: Membership and Governance to investigate and institute discipline processes. Anyone with the information on this please send to governance@plfa.org.za.
Conclusion
On a sad note, during these last two weeks I have lost my mother. I have been out of action for a while even prior to losing her as she was not well and I have been spending my time trying to assist her get better.
I want to send out my sincere and deepest apologies on behalf of the Executive Committee to the Match Officials for the mishap of not getting paid, and moreover, they have not been communicated to regularly about the status and updates on the matter. We will endeavour to have them paid this Friday.
I apologise to those who use Mbolekwa as their training ground. We will endeavour to resolve the issue as we have learnt recently about the abrupt change to the right of use by the city. In the meantime, other ground must be used as far as possible.
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