NAB to decide Letlapeng fate today

Calistus Kolantsho | Monday June 16, 2014 06:59

 

The appeal against a ruling by the Botswana Football Association (BFA) Disciplinary Committee (DC) that the Ramotswa side should be docked points for fielding an ineligible player against their title rivals Black Forest could not be heard last Thursday because of missing documents. 

After the DC ruling, the managers of the First Division South League threw a major spanner in the works by sticking to their earlier decision that Letlapeng are the champions, despite the fact that Forest now have more points and are top of the log. 

The status means that Letlapeng hasbeen promoted to play in the Premier League next season. 

The vice chairperson of the committee running the league, Sam Keitireng said the decision does not mean they are going against the ruling of the DC. 

He said the DC decision did not mean that Black Forest had been promoted to the Premier League but were merely granted three points and two goals from Letlapeng. He said such a development still left Letlapeng top as ‘soft’ points cannot take a team through. 

“Forest launched a complaint against Letlapeng to us on April 28 and we brushed it aside because they failed to prove their case. In May, the committee was summoned by the DC to justify its decision but instead a fresh matter was heard,” said Keitireng.

He said they were surprised when the DC decided to handle the appeal as if it was a fresh case. 

Keitireng said in an appeal, documents that had been filed should be the subject of discussion but unfortunately, the DC discussed the matter afresh instead of dwelling on the issue at hand - the transfer of a player from Wonder Sporting to Letlapeng.

“We still maintain that Letlapeng are champions. Article 5:3 of Play Rules and Regulations states that no team can be displaced from the top through soft points. 

This means even if three points and two goals are taken from Letlapeng, it still has a superior goal difference over Rolling Boys and Forest,” he explained.

Keitireng stated that the committee has submitted two log tables to the BFA explaining its findings. 

DC member, Chepete Chepete told Monitor Sport that after his committee made a decision, it was up to the First Division committee to organise play-offs between the two sides. 

He said the committee should not be seen to be taking sides and they are waiting for the NAB ruling to chart the way forward.

Meanwhile, Forest chairman, Mompati Ditiro said they have received the letter from the league committee informing them that the DC decision has been nullified. He said he is not surprised by the decision, accusing the committee of favouring Letlapeng.