Durban City’s Promotion Confirmed As Magawana’s Protest Is Dismissed

Durban City can finally celebrate their promotion to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) after the PSL Disciplinary Resolution Chamber (DRC) dismissed protests against them regarding the eligibility of player Saziso Magawana, Sportswire has been informed.

Tuesday marked the first day of judgment for City, who, despite beating Cape Town Spurs 1-0 at Athlone Stadium on Sunday, did not receive the Motsepe Foundation Championship trophy. The PSL had issued a statement on Thursday, explaining that a trophy handover would not occur on Sunday due to pending DRC cases that required a decision from the league’s legal wing.

The clubs that lodged protests against City were Leruma United, who later did not pursue their case, JDR Stars, and Cape Town Spurs, with the latter doing so on Sunday. All protesting clubs claimed that Magawana was ineligible to play, arguing he still had a contract with Marumo Gallants.

However, Durban City consistently maintained that Magawana was lawfully signed and that there was nothing untoward about his acquisition. This stance is supported by Magawana’s participation in 27 matches for City, in which he scored one goal.

With the DRC case by JDR Stars’ protest has now been dismissed with costs, the PSL DRC will now sit to rule of Spurs, which will take place on Wednesday. If that too is dismissed, Durban City’s promotion to the PSL will be confirmed, and they will be expected to receive their trophy from the league soon.

That would mean Cape Town Spurs have been officially relegated to the ABC Motsepe Regional League in Cape Town. Their only recourse now would be to take the matter to SAFA’s arbitration for a second opinion.

Durban City chairman Farook Kadodia had previously promised that his club would approach arbitration if they had lost the case.