Cape Town City and Kaizer Chiefs Prepare for Rescheduled Match, All Signs Point Toward the Game Going Ahead

Cape Town City and Kaizer Chiefs Prepare for Rescheduled Match, All Signs Point Toward the Game Going Ahead

Byron Pillay
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:01 PM
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  • Eric Tinkler's Cape Town City and Arthur Zwane's Kaizer Chiefs will finally face off at the FNB Stadium this weekend
  • All signs point to the game going ahead despite Cape Town City objecting to playing the fixture against Kaizer Chiefs
  • Eric Tinkler has been very outspoken about the game, as has Cape Town City Chairman, John Comitis

One of the most highly anticipated fixtures of the DStv Premiership season looks set to go ahead finally.

Cape Town City and Kaizer Chiefs are fixtured to face each other this weekend, but there were always doubts about whether the two sides would play.

Cape Town City, Kaizer Chiefs, Rescheduled Match, Soccer, Sport, Football, South Africa, Eric Tinkler
Eric Tinkler's Cape Town City and Arthur Zwane's Kaizer Chiefs will finally do battle this weekend at the FNB Stadium. @PSLNewsZA/@KickOffMagazine
Source: Twitter

Chiefs were scheduled to host Eric Tinkler’s side in December, but a Covid-19 outbreak at their Naturena Village meant that the club could not honour the fixture.

The club were then charged by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) for failing to honour the fixture, but they took the case up to the South African Football Association’s (SAFA) Arbitration which ruled in their favour. As a result, the PSL were ordered to reschedule Chiefs' two fixtures against Cape Town City and Golden Arrows.

The decision drew a lot of criticism from Cape Town City chairman John Comitis and coach Eric Tinkler.

Comitis said that the arbitration ruling was a dark day in South African football and said Chiefs could have the three points for the game because it wouldn’t affect his team’s progress. The PSL charged Comitis for bringing the game into disrepute, Soccer Laduma reported.

Eric Tinkler also questioned why Kaizer Chiefs had different rules and could bypass the PSL’s charges.

The Mother City club then threatened to not pitch up for the game if it was rescheduled. They even went as far as launching an official protest with the PSL. Speaking after the draw with Mamelodi Sundowns yesterday, which was also hosted in Gauteng, Tinkler seemed to suggest otherwise, Goal.com reported.

When asked if they would play against Chiefs on Saturday at the FNB Stadium, Tinkler smiled and said, ‘Well, we are here until Saturday so we will see.’

The PSL and Kaizer Chiefs will still meet in court on 10 May as the PSL seeks to appeal the arbitration ruling. If the PSL wins, all points Chiefs accumulated in the games against Golden Arrows and Cape Town City will be null and void. If Chiefs win the case, they get to keep the points.

Sadly, they lost their first rescheduled game against Golden Arrows 2-1.

"Are there rules for different fools?": Eric Tinkler questions why Kaizer Chiefs' matter is not yet resolved

Cape Town City coach, Eric Tinkler, has spoken about the current legal battle between Kaizer Chiefs and the Premier Soccer League (PSL), Sports Brief earlier reported. Tinkler questioned why specific rules applied to certain teams.

The arbitration ruling in Kaizer Chiefs’ favour meant that the PSL were ordered to reschedule the Amakhosi’s fixtures against Cape Town City and Golden Arrows. The PSL have now appealed that ruling, leaving Eric Tinkler’s side no more apparent on whether they will receive the three points or have another fixture to play.

However, Tinkler questioned why Chiefs were allowed to take the matter to SAFA when the PSL were dealing with it. As reported by MTNFC, Tinkler expressed frustration that the issue was still not resolved and was adamant that the league’s rules should apply to all teams.

Authors
Byron Pillay photo
Byron Pillay
Byron Pillay is a sports writer and Head of the Department at Sports Brief (joined in 2022) with over 10 years of experience in community journalism and a degree in journalism from Caxton's Cadet School.
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DStv PremiershipSouth Africa