Times Of Swaziland: SIHLANGU MAKE HISTORY

SIHLANGU MAKE HISTORY
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BY ASHMOND NZIMA on 12/05/2019 21:11:00


MBABANE – Two teams belonging to Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Executive
Members have been relegated to the regions.
Decisive MTN National First Division League games were played across different
venues yesterday and former Premier League sides in Hub Sundowns, Mbabane City
and Red Lions were the major casualties.  Hub, who are a team belonging to PLE
Executive Member Steve Horton, beat Rangers by 2-1 but went down on inferior
goal difference after Tambankulu Callies won 3-0 against City Warriors.
PLE Chairman Peter ‘Touch’ Magagula, who is attached to Mbabane City, also
saw the latter being relegated at Prince of Wales Ground following a 1-2 loss to
Madlenya. Also playing their last game in the country’s second-tier yesterday
were Red Lions who fired blanks against Premier League-bound Milling Hot Spurs
in a 0-0 draw.
Just last season, both Red Lions and Mbabane City were campaigning in the
Premier League. This means the sides have suffered the same fate twice in two
years.
Hub, who were 2005 SwaziBank (now Eswatini) Cup champions, were relegated from
top flight football in the 2010/11 season.
The old PLE Constitution, which is undergoing review, had called for Executive
Members whose teams went down to relinquish their posts.
However, in a retreat about a month ago, PLE Board of Governors unanimously
agreed that the chairman should not be relegated. However, the final call rests
with the General Assembly.
In essence, the final decision and way forward on the issue will be known during
the elite football office’s General Assembly in the next few months.
PLE CEO Simanga Nhleko could not be drawn for comment on the issue, as match
reports for yesterday’s games were yet to reach his office. Relegation will
also be made official during the Annual General Meeting.
(Full match reports inside)