GladAfrica Championship side Hungry Lions have confirmed that they will be consulting their lawyers to decide on the next step to take, following the revelation that they could be relegated and make way for Jomo Cosmos to make a return to the league.
Lions are due to face the PSL Disciplinary Committee on Monday, June 27, at 17h30 to answer to the charges laid against them. Lions have been charged for being in breach of rule 32.2 and 32.3 in the NSL handbook, after being accused of fielding a defaulter. They are also charged for contravening rule 55.3.13.
The player in question is Tshepo Mohlala, who was previously on the books of the Cosmos academy. It is understood that Mohlala did not receive his clearance from Cosmos, who formally laid a complaint to the PSL, via their lawyers.
In a letter sent to the PSL, and seen by the Siya crew, Cosmos said: "The player has never been cleared nor released by Jomo Cosmos Football Club, nor by Mr Jomo Sono, the only authorised signatory of Jomo Cosmos Football Club, and hence any games played for Hungry Lions Football, constitute a breach of the NSL handbook."
The Siya crew is in possession of the charge sheet sent to Lions and the club has confirmed to the Siya crew that they will be consulting their lawyers and don't want to talk too much in the media. Mohlala played in 10 matches, including one in the Nedbank Cup.
The league is expected to charge both the club and the player. Lions, who finished in 11th place on the standings, face the possibility to being docked up to 12 points. If they are indeed relegated, Cosmos would make a return. Ezenkosi finished in 15th place on 28 points.
"What I can tell you is that we have had communication from the league with regards to this issue. I can't say much now because we as a team have not really gone through this charge sheet. Until we have gone through it, with the necessary advice from our legal team, we can't say anything on the matter. This is clearly a legal matter, so we also want to respond adequately. We don't want to thumb suck and end up saying things we are not supposed to say which will put the team and league into disrepute," Lions communications manager Ostile Baitsomedi told the Siya crew.
- 2-0 win over Black Leopards (Novwember 27, 2021)
- 3-1 win over Polokwane City (December 5, 2021)
- 0-0 draw against Cape Town Spurs (December 11, 2021)
- 1-0 defeat to Venda Football Academy (December 18, 2021)
- 4-0 defeat to Polokwane City (February 23, 2022)
- 0-0 draw against Jomo Cosmos (February 26, 2022)
- 4-0 win over Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (March 15, 2022)
- 2-1 defeat to Uthongathi (April 3, 2022)
- 0-0 draw against University of Pretoria (April 13, 2022)
- 2-1 defeat against University of Pretoria (December 15, 2021) - Nedbank Cup
PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu confirmed that Cosmos has lodged a complaint and the hearing will take place on 27 June 2022 at 17h30 at the league's offices.
"I can confirm that Yesterday (Wednesday) I preferred charges of misconduct pursuant to a complaint lodged by Jomo Cosmos Football Club against Hungry Lions," Majavu said via the PSL media department.
"The allegation which are the substance of the complaint by Cosmos is that a player by the name of Mr Tshepo Mohlala was a defaulter and therefore fielded in circumstances where he was not eligible to be fieled by Hungry Lions."
View the list of players released by their clubs in one week:
