An under 15 Easter Tournament final between City Pirates and Golden Brothers was called off last due to suspected age cheating. This was the latest setback to a tournament which was set to finish two weeks back.
An under 15 Easter Tournament final between City Pirates and Golden Brothers was called off last due to suspected age cheating. This was the latest setback to a tournament which was set to finish two weeks back.
South African Football Association (SAFA) Under-15 coordinator in Makana, Akhona Heshu, did not provide any further information but only said their were allegations that both sides had fielded older players.
There was no explanation as to whence the claims emerged, nor what action would to be taken.
It is not even clear at this stage whether the tournament will in fact continue.
City Pirates were the 2-0 winners against Sophia Youngsters in the first semi-final, while Golden Brothers emerged 5-3 penalty shootout winners against Sakhulutsha after the sides were locked at 2-all at full time.
In a telephone interview with Grocott's Mail, Golden Brothers coach Thozamile Yaka admitted fielding an over-age player in his side, but said he had done so after his Pirates counterpart had fielded two over-age players.
He alleged that a birth certificate had been forged for an older player in the Pirates side.
Junior players have not yet been issued with Safa players' cards and so have to present birth certificates to qualify to play in certain matches.
"At first I let him get away with it but he proceeded to field a second over-age player," Yaka said.
“I then had to protect my boys by fielding an overage player too.
[Pirates coach Maxwell] Kondile made a complaint when I did so,” said Yaka.
Kondile admitted one of his players had presented a forged birth certificate, but said he had no idea until the matter was brought to his attention by the officials.
“The boy in question has been with me for three years and I didn’t know about this thing," Kondile said.
"I confronted him after this emerged and he admitted to it and we will see how we can resolve this situation.”
Kondile said he had no idea about the second overage player in his team that Yaka referred to.
The match officials took note of the matter during the half time break and the match was called off before the teams could return to the pitch.
Heshu said it would be possible to restart the tournament from scratch, as no team contested the match officials' decision to halt the match.
