Chiefs, Nico to play remaining 16 mins
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Wednesday November 12, 2014 12:00
Kick off is at 4:00 pm. According to the Botswana Premier League (BPL) chief executive officer, Bennett Mamelodi, referee Joshua Bondo’s report stated that he abandoned the match in the 74th minute because of power failure.
Chiefs were leading 1-0 courtesy of midfielder, David Makakaba’s goal. Nico won 3-0 in the first leg a week ago in Selebi Phikwe.
The two sides will now play the remaining 16 minutes. “Nico will receive their standard travel subsidy for playing a match more than 200 kilometres from their home base.
It is the 22 players who were on the pitch at the time of the abandonment who will feature for the resumed match on November 26,” Mamelodi said in a press statement. He said the same match sheets that were recorded on Monday will apply on November 26 as well as the officials.
Admission for the match is free according to the BPL CEO. “The president of the BFA, the legal advisor and the chairman of the Premier League were consulted before reaching this decision,” he said. The decision was reached in accordance with the BFA rules and regulations section 8.3.1 which states that if a match is abandoned on account of lights failure the remaining minutes are played.
Nico United chairperson, Mothusi Taolo welcomed the decision as it is according to play rules and regulations.
Chiefs’ spokesperson, Clifford Mogomotsi on the other hand said he could not comment on the matter since they had just received correspondence from the Premier League.
He said they will study the contents before they can respond. However, there are claims Chiefs want to challenge the legality of the amended play rules and regulations used to reach at the decision, arguing they had not been endorsed by FIFA.