Times Of Swaziland: G. MAMBA COULD GET PRIZE MONEY

G. MAMBA COULD GET PRIZE MONEY
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BY SABELO NDZINISA on 27/03/2020 00:13:00


MBABANE – Green Mamba could be handed a huge financial boost after it emerged
yesterday that the Correctional Services giants might get their E1.4 million
prize for winning the Ingwenyama Cup sooner than expected.
It has been gathered that the tournament’s organising committee headed by
Johannes ‘Ace’ Siboza had a meeting recently where the plan to hand out
prizes before the official presentation, was discussed at length.
Sources that were part of this meeting confided that the proposal to hand out
the prizes was put on the table for discussion where a majority of those present
shared the idea that the winners of the tournament should be given their prizes
early.
presentation
The date of the prize presentation ceremony is still not decided due to the
coronavirus pandemic that has resulted in the suspension of all football
activities in the country for two months.
It has been a norm in the past that the winners of this tournament are handed
their prizes in the presence of His Majesty King Mswati III during a special
dinner but due to the current state of affairs in the country surrounding the
coronavirus, the ceremony could now be held towards the end of May or early
June.
In their meeting, most members of the organising committee shared the view that
a special arrangement be made to give the winners their cash before the actual
date of the prize presentation due to the fact that it was still unclear when
the virus would be eliminated as a threat to the country.
It has already been declared as a national emergency by the PM, which
subsequently led to the announcement that the country would be in a partial
lockdown for 20 days.
The committee’s Secretary, Pat Vilakati, who is also Premier League of
Eswatini (PLE) Chief Operations Officer (COO), could only confirm that they had
a meeting to discuss issues pertaining to the tournament but was not specific.
“We had a meeting as the organising committee of the Ingwenyama Cup and we
will now submit a report to the relevant authorities to get direction on the
next steps to take,” was all Vilakati could say.
Green Mamba were declared champions of the tournament after beating Mbabane
Highlanders 2-0 at the Somhlolo National Stadium in a game watched by His
Majesty King Mswati III.
The Mbabane giants will pocket E530 000 for being runners-up while there will
also be individual prizes for deserving candidates.