Times Of Swaziland: STILL GRAZING!

STILL GRAZING!
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BY CHRIS DLAMINI on 15/09/2021 08:46:00


MBABANE – It’s only three weeks before the MTN Premier League 2021/22 kicks
off next month – most teams are already in preseason preparations.
However, giants Mbabane Highlanders are among very few that are yet to resume
preseason despite that the season kick-off date has been set by the Premier
League of Eswatini (PLE). Fixtures have been leaked to this publication as
reported on Monday, the grand opening pitting reigning champions Royal Leopard
against bitter rivals Mbabane Swallows, while Highlanders take on  last
season’s runners-up, Young Buffaloes who are playing in the TOTALEnergies CAF
Confederation Cup against Zambia’s Red Arrows.
Buffaloes lost the first-leg away last Saturday with a narrow 2-1 margin and
play the second-leg this weekend at Mavuso Sports Centre, Manzini. As most clubs
have resumed preseason training, it has transpired that concerns have been
raised by supporters at Highlanders over the delay. “This means our team will
go straight into competition and against a team that has not rested and playing
very tough international games. It’s practically two weeks before the league
starts because the final week is the one for playing. As supporters, we feel the
players must return to training with the coach especially because they are also
paid by the director. If we could, we’d request Kgomongwe to allow the coach
and players to resume training soonest,” commented a supporter who is also
close to the club’s structures.
Concerned
Another said that their hope was on one senior official to communicate with
Kgomongwe about resuming preseason. However, investigations to the panic
reported to be engulfing the ‘Inkunz’emnyama’, showed that even some
officials were also concerned about the late resumption of preseason and also
wished Kgomongwe could travel to the country to also resolve some contractual
issues for some players. No immediate comment could be obtained from the
club’s National Supporters Committee (NSC) Chairman, Kenneth Dlamini. “The
delay is about anything, but the team must register as a company,” Kgomongwe
who was caught busy briefly responded when made aware of the panic in his club.
He said that was what had to be fixed. The team’s supporters, through the NSC,
gave their permission to have their beloved Highlanders become a company,
joining Swallows and Wanderers. The matter was then to be deliberated upon by
the Patrons and then pass the final decision to Kgomongwe.
Patrons Secretary Musa Masuku was not immediately available for comment. His
cellphone rang unanswered while he also had not responded to a WhatsApp text on
the subject.