By Mikia Kalati
MASERU — A Division team, Rovers, have filed an appeal against Kick4Life alleging the side violated regulations when it allowed coach, Motlalepula Majoro, to be registered with two clubs.
The appeal is set to be heard by the Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena tomorrow.
If the appeals committee rules in favour of Rovers, A Division southern stream champions Qoaling Highlanders could lose their automatic qualification into the Vodacom Premier League.
Rovers lost out on the automatic qualification berth when they were held to a one-all draw by Kick4Life on the last day of the season last Saturday.
Rovers claim Kick4Life violated the rules of the game when they allowed Majoro to be registered with two teams for the 2011/12 season.
“We feel we have a strong case against Kick4Life. Motlelepula Majoro who is registered with them as coach has also registered with B Division side Killers FC as general manager,” Teboho Nzeku, the Rovers vice-president, said.
He said under the club licensing rules and regulations, it is an offence for a coach or player to be registered with two different clubs.
Rovers are demanding that they be awarded three points and three goals for the match against Kick4Life.
“I believe that Kick4Life violated the rules that govern football considering the status of Motlalepula Majoro, who is a former national team player and coach of the national Under-17 team,” Nzeku said.
Highlanders are however unmoved by Rovers’ protest.
They said they will not allow the university team’s protest to hamper their preparations for the upcoming Top 8 tournament next weekend.
The newly-crowned southern stream champions begin their Top 8 title defence against northern stream champions Nyenye Rovers.
“We are concentrating on defending the Top 8 title that we won last year in Thaba-Tseka,” Highlanders general manager, Sefupe Masenkane, said.
Masenkane said their hunger to win has not gone away despite the Rovers protest, which has put their premier league future in doubt.
Highlanders finished the season as leaders on 34 points, while Rovers finished second on 33.
Highlanders last played top flight football in 1984.
Masenkane said adding the Top 8 trophy to their cabinet would mark an historic year for the team.
A Division Top 8 quarter-finals fixture:
Qoaling Highlanders vs Nyenye Rovers
Sefothafotha vs Swallows
Qalo vs Rovers
Mphatlalatsane vs Kick 4 Life
Comments are closed.