Amid ongoing frustration with alleged poor officiating, Apollo XI has announced its decision to withdraw from the 2024/25 Mpumalanga ABC Motsepe League season. This move will leave the league with 17 teams, impacting all opponents that have previously faced Apollo XI, as points from matches against them may be nullified.

Apollo XI’s frustration stems from a series of recent games that team officials felt were marred by questionable officiating. Reflecting on their game against Naas The Bees, a club official shared that while Apollo XI was initially disappointed with the officiating, they chose to focus on future games. However, when they faced Moloto Shimadel, doubts began to grow, and the recent match against Secunda M Stars became the breaking point for the team.

In the Secunda M Stars game, Apollo XI claims they experienced a controversial call when a goal was disallowed after the referee opted to give a set piece rather than an advantage. “Someone out there is playing the man, not the ball,” the official added, implying suspicions of biased decisions beyond the particular clubs they were competing against.

Match officiating has been a longstanding concern in Mpumalanga, with allegations of misconduct casting shadows over the province’s football leagues. Fans and teams alike have voiced concerns, and recent complaints on social media have only fueled the demand for SAFA (South African Football Association) to take action. The potential withdrawal of a team as established as Apollo XI highlights the depth of the problem and calls into question the standards maintained in the province’s second-division football scene.

Apollo XI’s chairman, Mr. Thabo Shabangu, emphasized the financial burden of managing the club in this environment. According to Shabangu, the team incurs over R200,000 in monthly expenses, adding up to more than R5 million over the season—funds he feels are being wasted due to unfair officiating. “I’d rather lose the status than spend over R5 million that’s just being thrown away,” he stated. Mr. Shabangu openly expressed his frustration with the system and added that he is willing to let go of the team entirely, free of charge, to any party interested in taking it over.

“I’m done with this football. They can call me a coward; I don’t care. SAFA needs to see that they are failing the province and those investing in this game,” he concluded.

Apollo XI’s decision to withdraw is a significant development for the Mpumalanga ABC Motsepe League, underscoring the need for decisive action to improve officiating standards and restore confidence in the game.