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Sekhukhune United’s PSL promotion hopes given a boost

19 May 2021, 6:35 PM |

Sipho Kekana | @SABCNews

Ba Bina Noko won the first leg of their match against JDR 4-2 in January - a feat they will hope to repeat.

Image: Twitter: @SekhukhuneFc

Ba Bina Noko won the first leg of their match against JDR 4-2 in January - a feat they will hope to repeat.

GladAfrica Championship side Sekhukhune United have it all in their court in the quest to gain promotion to the DSTV Premiership.

This after they won their case against the Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee (PSL DC), which has seen them being awarded three points and three goals.

This means the Limpopo side, which was second on the log before the judgement, now moves to the top of the table on an equal number of points with Royal AM, but with an advantage of a superior goal difference.

Ba Bina Noko, as Sekhukhune United are affectionately known, had initially lodged a complaint with the PSL DC following the 1-0 loss to Polokwane City in January. They had complained that Polokwane City had failed to include five Under-23 players on their team sheet, as per the PSL rules.

Full Time ‼️

⏰90’+4

Not the results we wanted, but a good effort from our players.

Polokwane City 1️⃣-0️⃣Sekhukhune United FC#BabinaNoko #Adibahlabe pic.twitter.com/s9V4wk4y1M

— Sekhukhune United F.C. (@SekhukhuneFc) January 2, 2021

While the PSL DC found Polokwane City guilty and deducted the three points they had irregularly secured against Sekhukhune, they had decided not to award those point to the opposing team, as it had done so in similar previous cases.

It is declared the Respondent (#PolokwaneCity) forfeited their match to the Appellant (#SekhukhuneUnited) with a scoreline of 3-0. #GladAfricaChampionship pic.twitter.com/yuusN76Xit

— Sipho King K Kekana (@KingKAzania) May 19, 2021

This prompted Ba Bina Noko to lodge an appeal against the PSL DC’s decision. Earlier on Wednesday, the South African Football Association (SAFA) arbitration ruled that Sekhukhune United be awarded the three points and three goals.

This means the Limpopo side now goes top of the log with all to play for when they face off against JDR Stars in their final match of the season on Sunday.

In a synchronized encounter, Royal AM, who are second on the log by an inferior goal difference, will be hoping they win their match and Ba Bina Noko failed to get maximum points. A win for Sekhukhune United would secure their promotion to the DSTV premiership irrespective of the outcome of the match involving Royal AM.

Ba Bina Noko won the first leg of their match against JDR 4-2 in January – a feat they will hope to repeat.

Full Time ‼️

⏰9️⃣0️⃣+5️⃣

Sekhukhune United 4️⃣-2️⃣JDR Stars #BabinaNoko #Adibahlabe pic.twitter.com/rrj6Jy24mU

— Sekhukhune United F.C. (@SekhukhuneFc) January 26, 2021

Sekhukhune United’s promotion to the PSL, if they win on Sunday, may not increase the number of Limpopo teams in the premier division with Black Leopards likely to be relegated back to the GladAfrica Championship.

The PSL has released a statement stating that the league’s Executive Committee will meet on Thursday to discuss the decision by SAFA’s arbitration, stating that “at this point, the league will not comment any further on the matter.”