from the saasl website
The SAASL, along with the EDJSA, welcomed and accepted the invitation by the FFSA to be involved in the 4 key initiatives for Football and is working towards providing the information required. In the same spirit of cooperation, we look forward to communicating and working with the FFSA for the benefit of all Football in SA.
Furthermore, it is correct that the SAASL has been invited to meet with the FFSA to discuss the matter of affiliation.
We will be meeting with the FFSA at a mutually agreeable time in the very near future.
The SAASL Management Committee will consider any affiliation proposal and, as was the process in 2007, will consult with our member Clubs in due course. The SAASL Management Committee can not make any decision regarding affiliation with the FFSA without the due process and diligence required, which includes consulting with the SAASL member Clubs, who will exercise their Constitutional rights in making the final decision in this matter.
The SAASL would also like to clarify its position on several matters in response to an email sent to the FFSA State League Clubs. This communication was not meant for general publication, nor was it meant to interpreted as a criticism of the FFSA structure or its Management.
The SAASL continues to recognise the FFSA as the body responsible for the semi-professional Mens football competition in SA and in no way wishes to diminish that, however, the SAASL has only responded to the concerns raised directly both by several State League and senior Amateur Clubs regarding our position should the State League clubs wish to join, or re-join, the SAASL competition.
Over recent years the FFSA, without reference to the SAASL Management Committee, has had many discussions with numerous SAASL Clubs in an attempt to recruit clubs to the State League.
It is unfortunate that we have been criticised for communicating with current State League Clubs, when the SAASL has maintained the lines of communication with all FFSA clubs in many matters, including player registrations and transfers, and will continue to do so in the future.
Since 1965 our charter has been to provide a low cost well managed amateur football competition for community based Clubs and associations. It would have been remiss of us not to engage with the State League Clubs, some being former members of the SAASL, letting them know what we could provide should they need to consider an alternative.
We welcome the decision by the FFSA to reopen the lines of communication with the SAASL and look forward to a new chapter in the relationship between the two bodies and for further discussions to be both positive and productive on all football matters, both now and into the future.
Alex Cichanowski
General Secretary
SA Amateur Soccer League Inc
