ABC Motsepe league in limbo as Santos dispute drags on

Mark Ward

A veil of uncertainty hangs over the Western Cape ABC Motsepe League as questions surrounding Santos FC’s participation in the competition remain unanswered, with provincial football authorities maintaining a firm silence.

Repeated efforts to obtain clarity from Safa Western Cape provincial executive chairman,Tankiso Modipa, have yielded no results. Multiple inquiries this week were met with “stone silence.”

Santos chairperson Goolam Allie says he is just as “in the dark” as the media. He confirmed that daily correspondence sent to the provincial office has gone unanswered, leaving the former PSL giants in limbo as an administrative dispute stalls both their league involvement and their participation in the Nedbank Cup.

Allie declined to engage publicly on the matter, saying he does not want to jeopardise the club’s ongoing legal and administrative attempts to secure their rightful place in both competitions. “We are waiting for due process to unfold,” he said, adding that the Nedbank Cup issue remains on hold while the league matter is unresolved.

Club owners and coaches across the Western Cape have also opted to steer clear of the controversy, citing a lack of information from officials. Several indicated that it would be “preferable for the dispute to be settled,” as many teams are unsure how the impasse may affect fixtures, standings, or the integrity of the competition going forward.

Although no official communication has been circulated, it is understood that last weekend’s round of matches concluded the schedule before the Christmas recess. Clubs are now hoping that fixtures for the new year will be released soon to provide some stability and direction for the remainder of the campaign.

Meanwhile, on the field, FN Rangers climbed to the summit of Stream A with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Inter City at Royal Road on Saturday. Darron Omaticus netted a brace, while Courtney Smidt sealed the result with a composed finish. Rangers now lead the log on 10 points from four matches. Vasco da Gama sit in second place, two points behind, with Hope United third on seven points as the title race begins to take shape despite the turbulence surrounding the league’s administration. Santos are at the bottom of the standings, having not played a single league fixture.