Setshedi guilty of match-fixing
Former Bafana Bafana team manager Phil Jones Setshedi was found guilty of match-fixing by the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Cape Town, the SA Football Association said on Monday.
Setshedi's guilty verdict was handed down on Friday.
"Setshedi was found guilty of an attempt to unduly and improperly influence the outcome of a Vodacom League play-off match in Cape Town last year," spokesman Dominic Chimhavi said in a statement.
At the time of his arrest, Setshedi was involved with the Mpumalanga Sevutsa Stars, which was seeking promotion to the national first league in the Vodacom promotional play-offs.
He wanted to give the referee a R6000 bribe for the Sivutsa Stars to win the match. According to the charge sheet, a police undercover operation was set up. A police official, posing as the referee, met Setshedi in a hotel room. Setshedi was arrested in the room after giving him the bribe money.
Safa president Kirsten Nematandani said Setshedi's conviction would send out a clear message to "other potential corrupt elements".
"This is a strong message to anyone who might intend to tarnish the good name of the sport through match fixing or other behaviour.
"We would like to warn other potential criminals that the long arm of the law would not spare anyone," Nematandani said.
The matter was postponed to February 11 for pre-sentence hearings.
