Football | Nedbank Cup

Derek Blanckensee © Backpagepix

Polokwane City unlikely to play in cup

22 November 2012, 13:26

Polokwane City Football Club may not take part in this year's Nedbank Cup competition, Premier Soccer League (PSL) general manager Derek Blackensee said on Thursday.

"Polokwane City is in the draw, but it is extremely unlikely that they will play," Blackensee said after the team was drawn against FC AK.

Four Polokwane City players were killed earlier this month when the minibus they were travelling in collided with a bakkie along the R71 road near Polokwane. The team were returning from a National First Division (NFD) clash against FC AK.

"The team basically don't have players so, in all likelihood, whoever draws Polokwane City effectively will have a bye," Blackensee said at the draw for the preliminary round of the Nedbank Cup, which features only NFD teams.

Polokwane City have had all of their NFD fixtures postponed since the accident. Blackensee said the decision whether or not they would take part in the Cup competition was not final and a proposal would be tabled at next week's PSL executive committee meeting.

"As far as we know, from the meetings which took place yesterday with the owner (of Polokwane City), is that one player is still in a very serious condition in a hospital in Pretoria," he said.

"Two more players are still in hospital in Polokwane and as for the rest of the squad, virtually all of them are injured in one degree or another.

"Some are in braces and they basically all got hurt. They have lost their teammates, they are all hurt… it's just a tragedy."

According to Blackensee's information, there are only about four players who are fully fit at the moment.

Earlier, Vasco Da Gama were drawn against Santos in a Cape Town derby, while former Premiership outfit Jomo Cosmos were drawn at home to FC Cape Town.

The draw:

(home teams listed first)

Sivutsa Stars v African Warriors
Vasco Da Gama v Santos FC
Polokwane City v FC AK
United FC v Roses United FC
Dynamos FC v Mpumalanga Black Aces
Milano United v Thanda Royal Zulu
Witbank Spurs v Blackburn Rovers
Jomo Cosmos v FC Cape Town

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