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THE battle lines in amateur soccer are drawn after six of the strongest affiliates belonging to the Safa-Cape Town broke their silence over going it alone and forming their own association outside the ranks of the embattled Safa-CT.

Following several hush-hush meetings on the issue that could split soccer down the middle, the Cape Town-Tygerberg LFA, Grea?ter Mitchell's Plain LFA, Metropolitan LFA (Bonteheuwel), Greater Athlone LFA and Cape District FA ,in a joint statement, said that they are set to break ranks if the soccer situation has not improved in Safa-CT before the amateur season starts in March.

The Nothern Suburbs LFA is the other big affiliate likely to join them once they get the green light from their clubs.

The WP Indoor Football Association has also committed itself to join the big six.

Bennett Bailey, from the chair of Safa-CT, said he was aware of the development and is extremely worried about the repercussions it could have in soccer. He received the support from the intended breakaway group in April 2006.

Les Julies, his vice-chair and one of several Safa-WP executive members who are at loggerheads with Bailey, said he could only comment on the matter once he was allowed to do so by the full executive of Safa-CT.

Julies is tipped to be the new chairman of Safa-CT when elections take place. Clive Bailey, the Safa-CT secretary and Mike Seheke, the assistant secretary, could also retain their positions.

Yusuf Christians, from the Greater Athlone LFA, the newly-elected spokesperson for the breakaway group, said that they were "committed to good soccer administration and to work in the best interest of all their players".

Christians said that these values were being "sadly neglected in the current power struggle and feuding in Safa-CT".

He said that matters could come to a head if the clubs from his group decide to withdraw from the Castle Third Division and Safa-WP Super League competitions at a special meeting scheduled to take place this week.

Christians insisted that the breakaway was not prompted by the strong possibility that "the current opposition group led by Safa-CT vice-chair Les Julies" would dominate the administration of the Safa-CT after elections scheduled to take place in April.

The Julies group includes the Khayalitsha, Crossroads, Nyanga, Greater Wynberg, Ocean View, Langa and Hout Bay LFAs. Greater Wynberg LFA comprises the old Southern Suburbs FA (Grassy Park). Cape District FA has refused to join them under the name of GWLFA.

Christians said his group would soon call for meetings with the Western Cape Department of Sport and the SA Football Association (Safa).

They are doing little to address the problems that have dogged Safa-CT, said Christians.

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