Liverpool confirmed for CT, but ...
Another hold-up in Liverpool's tour to Cape Town, South Africa
Posted: 3 May 2013 Time: 05:09 pm
While Liverpool's game in Cape Town on May 21 has been confirmed, there is another potential spanner in the works for the troubled fixture.
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Ajax Cape Town are the most likely opponents, although that defends on whether they are involved in promotion/relegation play-offs at the end of the League season
However, SuperSport United or Orlando Pirates are involved in the play-off stage of the CAF Confederation Cup on the weekend of May 17-19, then it is likely that the PSL will move the final round of Premiership fixtures from May 18 to May 21 or 22.
This is owing to the PSL ruling that all final round League matches that have a bearing on the top or the bottom of the table must kick-off at the same time.
With SuperSport set to face title-chasing Platinum Stars and Pirates still mathematically in the running with a last round game against Maritzburg United, should either of those teams feature in the next stage of the Confederation Cup, the PSL will likely change the date of the final day of the season.
That is because Kaizer Chiefs’ next opportunity to be crowned champions will only be on May 15 when they face SuperSport in a rescheduled fixture, just three days before the scheduled end of the campaign.
PSL sources have already said they will not wait that long to make a decision on when the final round of matches will be played and are likely to make that call on either Monday or Tuesday next week.
It is highly unlikely they will play the games after the Nedbank Cup Final on May 25, meaning the only available slot will be Tuesday, May 21 or Wednesday, May 22.
Either those dates would see Ajax in action against Golden Arrows and therefore unable to fulfill their obligations for the Liverpool match.
And it would appear unlikely as well that Liverpool would tour any later than that week, with their season also finishing on May 19. There is also the potential that Ajax could be preparing for the promotion/relegation play-offs.
One potential compromise would be to move just the games involving the championship games to midweek and leave the relegation battle for the weekend, but this would go against the global principle of having one final round of matches to capture the drama and excitement of the competition.
The PSL could also be then accused of making a special arrangement to suit one club – Ajax – to the detriment of the entire League.
SuperSport take on Egyptian side ENPPI for a place in the next round of the Confederation Cup on Saturday, with that tie locked at 0-0 with the home leg to come for Matsatsantsa.
If Pirates lose their CAF Champions League tie to TP Mazembe then they will drop down into the Confederation Cup competition. Should they advance then their next CAF action will only be in July.
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