Simba, Proline and USL managers in new jostle

Express could go joint top of the Bell Super League log with URA if they beat Simba today, just as Proline could also end the day second with victory over Water.

But the said games must first take place for the permutations to work out. These were abandoned during a player-strike in March after a Water and Express seventh player went down injured and never to return, forcing match officials to stop the games.

Article 56, section 1 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code and Law 7 in the laws of the game were evoked by the USL on the said games, thus fining Water and Express Shs500,000 each for failure to raise the necessary team and rescheduling the games for replays.

Section 1 reads: “If a match cannot take place or cannot be played in full for reasons other than force majeure (unavoidable accident), but due to the behaviour of a club, that club will be sanctioned with a (given) minimum ?ne. The match will either be forfeited or replayed.”

Law 7 says: “An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules provide otherwise.”

But Simba and Proline insist they will not replay the games saying they can’t play each other three times. “They (Express) even used an unlicensed player in the game and we petitioned the USL but they have done nothing,” argued Fred Kajoba, the Simba coach. “My bosses have decided we shall not replay the game but if they say we go ahead and play, we shall play. We are always ready.”

USL communications head James Ssekandi admits Express could have used an unlicensed player but blames Simba for not asking the referee to play under protest.

“Simba sent us the pictures of the player but no one can even name him,” he said, “He is even not captured in the referee’s report.

Proline on May 5 wrote to the USL denouncing the rescheduled fixture with Water because they believed the secretariat misinterpreted the rules.

Sections E 13 of the USL regulations says a match shall not be postponed or abandoned except when the home club or the visiting team is - on the same date - engaging in a competition permitted by league rules.

It can also happen on approval of the officiating referee, by order of the police or with the prior written consent of the Secretariat.

Victoria University meanwhile qualified for the Big League final play-off yesterday after edging CRO 8-7 on post-match penalties at the Njeru Technical Centre artificial turf. Regulation time had ended 1-all.

Victoria played the bigger part of second half with two men less after Geoffrey Simbwa and Lawrence Bakulanze were sent off in the 60th and 75th minute respectively for second bookable offences. Former SC Villa defender Dennis Guma had fired Victoria University to a 26th minute lead but Musa Malunda levelled for CRO after the interval. Victoria meet Aurum Roses in the final on May 19. Aurum qualified without kicking a ball after their would-be opponents Mbarara Old Timers failed to honour the semifinal encounter.