NRFL asks Ekwendeni to be patient

The Northern Region Football League (NRFL) has appealed to Ekwendeni United to be patient as the league sorts out the wrangle of their controversial game with Paladin FC.

Ekwendeni have threatened to seek justice from FAM because they feel the league is not willing to help them in the matter.

According to Ekwendeni United coach Gerald Dube, two of their players, Dan Msimuko and Livison Litche joined Paladin without Ekwendeni’s clearance.

The players featured in a game the two teams played on July 31 2011 and Ekwendeni lost 2-0.

With two games to wrap up the season, Ekwendeni lie second with 48 points, trailing Kabwafu with two points. Ekwendeni are, therefore, banking on NRFL and FAM to award them the three points they lost against Paladin who featured uncleared players.

NRFL vice-general secretary, Chiukepo Chiwowa, confirmed receiving Ekwendeni’s complaint. He, however, appealed to Ekwendeni not to be too impatient about it because the league is sorting out certain issues before it can tackle the matter.

“We can sort out the matter any time as long as procedures are followed, so Ekwendeni must be patient,” Chiwowa said in an interview on Tuesday.

But Dube feels the league is deliberately buying time so that they crown Kabwafu as champions; hence, he would like to have the matter resolved as quickly as possible. Paladin FC coach Kondwani Mwalweni said in an interview on Wednesday that the matter is closed because his club pulled out of the campaign due to lack of funding whereas Dube maintained that the league can still award them points.

Said Dube: “What we know is that despite pulling out, Paladin are still in existence and the league can punish them by forfeiting the points they earned illegally.”