According to PSL records, Cape Town City fielded a suspended player against Royal AM. However, the player in question, Jaedin Rhodes, has never been booked or sent off while playing for City! Will this be quickly sorted out and equally importantly, how did this come about?
Cape Town City defeated Royal AM 2-1 at the DHL Stadium thanks to a late Thabo Nodada strike in the 90th minute. Both these teams have had a tough season as they have featured in CAF competitions, with City finding themselves eliminated in the CAFCL preliminary round and AM, in the CAFCC preliminaries respectively.
City’s new man from Cameroon, Bertrand Mani opened the scoring in the 37th minute against the run of play to open his account on debut. AM responded thanks to a Ruzaigh Gamaldien diving header in the 44th minute. City were lucky to not being reduced to 10-men after striker Khanyisa Mayo’s tackle on Royal AM captain, Samuel Manganyi, was not punished by the referee Thando Ndzandzeka.
City should be worried though, as they featured a player on the PSL list of suspended players for the weekend matches in Jaedin Rhodes. The 19-year-old has only featured twice this season prior to the Royal AM clash. He featured in the 2-1 win against Chippa and 2-1 defeat to Gallants. In both matches, Rhodes came off the bench and was not red-carded or at least booked in both matches.
Could it be a case of mistaken identity by the league? Although in the NSL rulebook, it states the League’s list is the official binding record. It remains to be seen whether they will punish City or own up if it is an error.
PSL rule 53.5. state, “The League will be responsible for keeping all records relating to dismissals and Suspensions, and only the League’s records will be considered accurate and binding. These records will be sent to Member Clubs after every match in which they participate and the League will inform Member Clubs when a suspension falls due.”
Rhodes was starting in City midfield for the first time and was instrumental in midfield dictating play in attack, but was later substituted in the 74th minute for Kajally.
It remains to be seen if City will have yet another legal push with the league as they have been wrestling since the beginning of the season regarding FNB sponsorship.
The victory in Cape Town moves City to 16 points and on 9th spot, above AM on goal difference and below 8th placed TS Galaxy by same.
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