The suspended president of the Mutale Local Football Association, Mr Fhatuwani Rananga Singo, has responded to the allegations leveled against him that led to his immediate suspension. The story regarding his suspension was published in our paper two weeks ago. In the story, Singo was reported to have been suspended, following allegations that he had mismanaged the association’s funds and staged a tournament that was not sanctioned by the region. He was not available for comment when we published that story. The tournament in questions are the Tshikondeni Soccer Challenge that was staged last year. In a telephonic interview last Tuesday, Singo said that the tournaments had been lawful, saying that it had been sanctioned by the regional association. According to him, the chairperson of the competitions committee, Mr Hulisani Mabasa, and the administrator, Mr Mulalo Mafenya, were part of the several planning meetings, which they held prior the tournament. He reiterated the fact that their staging the tournaments was in line with the league’s constitution. He stressed the fact that he was embarrassed to see that their elder brothers from the SAFA Vhembe Regional Association had not read their own constitution. “In short, we staged the tournament in line with the requirements of Article 25 of the league’s constitution,” he said. When it came to the allegations of mismanagement of funds, Mr Singo revealed that he had evidence to prove that the R6 000 which he is said to have mismanaged, had been properly utilized. He said that he was shocked when he received a letter from the regional office in which he was ordered to pay back the R6 000. He stated that his response to the letter was that the regional association should review their decision and summon him to appear before a disciplinary committee as that would amount to imprisonment without trial. He said that he was happy that the regional association had finally succumbed to his request, saying he received a letter summoning him to appear before the league’s disciplinary committee last Thursday.