Gaseruka, Mafisango free to play

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) ban handed down to APR and national team defenders Aloua Gaseruka and Patrick Mafisango expire today ahead of the national football league that kicks off on November 17.

Thursday, November 01, 2007

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) ban handed down to APR and national team defenders Aloua Gaseruka and Patrick Mafisango expire today ahead of the national football league that kicks off on November 17.

Gaseruka together with team-mate Mafisango were handed a six-month bans while Saddou Boubakary was banned for a year, all for assaulting a match referee during APR’s Champions League tie against Togo’s Maranatha de Fiokpo in March.

While Gaseruka and Mafisango’s punishment expires tomorrow, Saddou who was serving a longer ban was pardoned last week.

Mafisango has since joined Atraco Fc.

"We can confirm that Saddou (Boubakary) has been pardoned by the executive committee,” a letter addressed to Ferwafa revealed. 

This means the Cameroonian defender is free to feature in the national league which kicks off next month.

After that infamous Champions League clash, APR were handed a three-year suspension from participating in Caf-sanctioned competitions for walking off the pitch before the end of the tie played in Wome.

However, the military side appealed against the punishment and it was overturned less than two months later.

The visitors stormed off three minutes from the end of the match to protest a penalty awarded against them.

It was the second penalty given against them inside two minutes.

APR was level on aggregate with their Togolese hosts Maranatha Fiokpo when the spot kick was awarded in the 87th minute. 

APR players refused to allow the Togo team to take the kick, prompting the referee to call off the game.

Ends