Times Of Swaziland: MBEKELWENI LADIES RETURN TO EWFA

MBEKELWENI LADIES RETURN TO EWFA
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BY PHOLSILE HLOPHE on 20/07/2021 08:24:00


MBABANE – Mbekelweni Ladies football team is back.
The Eswatini Women Football Association’s (EWFA) will have 13 teams in the new
season as they welcomed the return of Mbekelweni Ladies. This transpired during
the EWFA elective Annual General Assembly (AGM) held on Sunday at Sigwaca House
in Mbabane. Mbekelweni was suspended in the 2018/2019 season for failing to
honour games. The team was suspended according to Article 16 which reads; “the
executive committee may, however, suspend with immediate effect a member that
has committed serious breach of FIFA, CAF, EFA and EWFA statutes, regulations,
directives and or decisions made under them or it fails to fulfill its financial
obligations towards EWFA. Such suspensions shall last until the next general
assembly unless the executive committee has lifted it in the meantime.”
violation
Failing to honour fixtures was a violation of Article 15 which obliges members
to fully comply with the statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of
EWAF, FIFA, CAF and the Eswatini Football Association (EFA). According to former
Secretary Aaron ‘Katalala’ Mavimbela, the club was suspended for one season,
but failed to return last year upon the outbreak of COVID-19 which placed the
women’s domestic league on ice for 16 months. Representing Mbekelweni Ladies
FC was team Manager Majahonkhe Nkambule who assured the meeting of their
readiness to resume play. “Our main challenge was that the team was dominated
by scholars who by the time were busy preparing for their external examinations
for Form III and V. Our weekend fixtures were affected as parents often barred
these players from attending Saturday and Sunday games due to academic and
religious commitments,” said Nkambule.
He further said the new team comprised of fewer scholars, but acknowledged
having produced skilled players for the national team including Tenanile
Ngcamphalala and big teams such as Young Buffaloes Ladies, Manzini Wanderers and
Mbabane Swallows ladies teams. “We won’t have the same challenges and we are
ready to compete. We will continue developing and grooming players to feed the
national team as we have done in the past. The women’s league is expected to
commence in the next fortnight following the completion of COVID-19 tests.