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THE newly-founded Safa-Cape Town is facing three contentious issues that could affect the smooth running of amateur soccer if solutions are not found.

The biggest concern is that Safa-CT could be saddled to a certain extent with the estimated R200 000 legal bill that has been forwarded to Safa-Western Province, from whom Safa-CT took over the administration of amateur soccer in April.

Justice Zondi decided in the Cape High Court on Wednesday, 19 July that Safa-WP should be held responsible for the legal costs incurred since March, when an affiliate of Safa-WP, namely the Cape Town-Tygerberg FA, successfully challenged Safa-WP's uncompromising stance on demarcation. CT-Tygerberg's action was supported by the Mitchell's Plain, Northern Suburbs and Metropolitan (Bonteheuwel) districts.

But, according to Bennett Bailey, Safa-CT chairman, the court cannot act against his new association.

"The court action is directed at the old Safa-WP that was led by Vernon Seymour. Our (Safa-CT's) understanding is that the court reserves the right to pursue this matter until costs are paid," said Bailey.

Yesterday, Seymour said he was aware of Justice Zondi's decision, but declined to comment until after he had studied all the relevant court documents.

In another issue involving Seymour and Safa-CT, Seymour was, nevertheless, more forthright. He confirmed that Safa-CT had suspended him indefinitely after he failed to attend a disciplinary committee hearing last Monday night.

Safa-CT said in correspon?dence to all districts that Seymour was suspended until he requests to meet with the disciplinary committee.

"I believe that the new Safa-CT executive is quite inexperienced and is making mistakes. The way they went about summoning me is an example of how they are slipping up," says Seymour.

"They should have referred the issues concerning me to the SA Football Association (Safa), as I was acting in my capacity as a National Executive Member member of Safa when I allegedly transgressed.

"I am keen to meet with the Safa-CT exco to explain how Safa operates and how it expects things to be done,"" Seymour added.

Seymour confirmed that he did not attend the disciplinary hearing because he was not aware of the eight charges he faced until shortly before the meeting on Monday, 17 July.

He pointed out that Safa-CT had sent the correspondence to his office address and not to the Southern Suburbs FA or Square Hill AFC, as he had expected.

According to Seymour, he was unaware at the time that it was a matter for Safa to deal with. The other challenge facing Bailey is to get the Cape District FA and Southern Su?burbs FA to launch the Greater Wynberg LFA under the chairmanship of Albert Marais from the Southern Suburbs FA.

Bailey said that the Safa-WP vice-chairman, Les Mondo, who chaired a joint CDFA/SSFA meeting, will report back at a Safa-CT exco meeting tonight.

Bailey said that he has, meanwhile, given the go-ahead for Marais to officially invite all CDFA and SSFA clubs to seek affiliation to the GWLFA.

Bailey said he expected the CDFA to resist the get-together because of their fight to retain their name and the issue surrounding the chairmanship of the GWLFA.

"I am hopeful, however, that agreements will be reached and that the clubs will benefit," he said.

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