Maritzburg United chairman Farook Kadodia feels betrayed after the Team of Choice got relegated from the Premier Division to the Motsepe Foundation Championship on Wednesday.
In a statement released on Sunday evening, Kadodia said: “To all the valued supporters and stakeholders of our esteemed team, Wednesday, the 14th of June, will forever be remembered as a somber night in our football history, spanning two decades. It was an evening when, despite the presence of 12,000 passionate fans at our renowned Harry Gwala Stadium, which had been hailed as an impenetrable fortress for visiting teams until this season, we regrettably succumbed to the despairing fate of relegation.”
Kadodia added: “To the members of the board, it was a moment of disappointment, as the inability to score even a single goal came at a significant financial cost of R50 million. To our city, over the course of two decades, we had strived to provide captivating entertainment that brought together diverse cultures with love and passion. Unfortunately, we fell short in delivering at the crucial moment.”
Addressing the players, Kadodia said: “To the players, we felt betrayed by a few individuals whose questionable concessions of goals during the critical stages of our battle for survival proved detrimental. The absence of an attacking approach in search of a winning goal was overshadowed by unappealing defensive tactics.”
The Team of Choice boss went on to say that he’s disheartened after realising some of his players unwittingly assisted those he said hindered his team’s progress despite fulfilling their obligation to honour their contracts and pay their salaries on time.
“Despite being given a chance to redeem ourselves in the playoff and receiving what could be considered a divine intervention for the club, some individuals had alternative motives that diverted us from our path. However, it is imperative that we leave the past behind us. Let us remain united and exhibit unwavering determination to reclaim our rightful place in the football hierarchy,” Kadodia concluded.
