The start of the new season will come with a minus for Kaizer Chiefs in their squad as they fly to Cape Town to play Stellenbosch FC at Athlone Stadium on Sunday (17:30).
Pule Mmodi is suspended after being red-carded in the second-last game of last season against Sekhukhune United.
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He served the first of his two-game suspension in the curtain-closing tie against Polokwane City.
Under Chapter 5: Disciplinary matters, the NSL Handbook states that:
“A Player dismissed by the referee (i.e. "red carded" or sent off, including dismissal as a result of 2 (two) yellow cards given in the same match) will, for the first occasion in a Season, be suspended from participation in the next 2 (two) matches to be played by his team in any Competition under the auspices of the League”
It further stipulates that:
"Any period of suspension or part thereof, which remains outstanding at the end of a Season, must be served at the commencement of the next Season.
"Cautions accumulated during a Season will not be carried to the next Season"
This is how Mmodi is affected.
Nasreddine Nabi has lamented the absence of the 32-year-old, who played 24 games last season.
"We are ready but just regretting the absence of Pule Mmodi for the first game because of suspension.
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"He is an important player for us.
"But I need to give confidence for all the players to get a positive result," says Nabi.
The Theunissen-born attacking midfielder is into his third season at Chiefs.
Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
