UWC set for walkover, but Thunderbirds coach says Super League date was unfair!

UWC confirmed the unfortunate incident on social media 30 minutes or so after the game was meant to have kicked off. 

According to the rules, the side led by coach Thinasonke Mbuli is meant to be declared 3-0 winners, and SABC Sport has it on good authority the match commissioner has submitted a report to SAFA to that effect. 

But when asked for comment, Thunderbirds coach Apleni gave an explanation to why his team never arrived for the match. 

“Our game was meant to be played in June, but was postponed due to Banyana Banyana’s participation in the World Cup and the fact that UWC had quite a number of players selected,” he elaborated. 

“We expected it to be rescheduled for a suitable time, but we were suddenly told it would be yesterday afternoon. We asked the authorities to move the game again because the travelling is unfair. Our team has to travel from PE, more than 1000 kilometers and we are travelling to Cape Town afterwards. If our players play, it means they will come home on Sunday and then be on the road on Monday again before having to be ready again on Wednesday – and then have to return to the Eastern Cape later.” 

Indeed, this appears a logistic nightmare for Thunderbirds, not to mention the toll it would take on the squad made up of players who are also students.

Thunderbirds have a game away to Richmond United (Northern Cape) on Saturday, then TS Galaxy (Mpumalanga) a week later before hosting University of Pretoria at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London.  

“This was not practical for the ladies. We communicated with this. But we couldn’t communicate with UWC or find a solution. I don’t’ want to get deep into what happened because I can get punished,” Apleni said.  

“Any point you ask will be selfish. It’s right for UWC to get a walkover, but for us it can’t be. We asked for a tentative date. But there were issues with their grounds being unavailable. We found it strange there’s no alternative grounds. Anyway, UWC sympathised with us, but perhaps they have used the situation to their advantage because it gives them three points.”