Times Of Swaziland: ‘BULL’ STAR INJURY EXPOSES THAT: AMBULANCES SCARCITY A GRAVE CONCERN ‘BULL’ STAR INJURY EXPOSES THAT: AMBULANCES SCARCITY A GRAVE CONCERN ================================================================================ Mengameli Mabuza on 01/10/2024 16:48:00 MBABANE – PLE Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pat ‘Kungumusa’ Vilakati, has conceded the difficulties in ensuring ambulances availability in all league matches. Vilakati was responding to this publication’s story yesterday about injured Mbabane Highlanders defender, Melusi ‘Mega’ Magagula. The player suffered a devastating injury during the match against Royal Leopard at KaLanga Technical Centre, two days ago, leaving his team and supporters reeling from shock and concern. Ingwemabalabala won the MTN Premier League game over Inkunzi’ emmyama with a 2-0 victory. In addition to suffering a demoralising loss, the Mbabane giants were dealt a crushing blow as their vibrant right back, ‘Mega’, was taken to the hospital after sustaining a serious injury that affected his vision during the match. Sibonelo ‘Jekwa’ Simelane, the Royal Leopard player responsible for the incident, was reported to have delivered an elbow to the defender’s face. He was carried by officials and loaded into a vehicle, they were no ambulances in sight. ‘Kungumusa’ noted that the financial constraints impede the league’s ability to provide optimal safety measures for players and spectators alike, as ambulances remain a pressing concern. Confess “I must confess that securing ambulances for all matches remains a challenging endeavour due to our limited resources. Although we recognise the crucial role ambulances play in safeguarding the health and well-being of our players, supporters, and staff, the financial constraints impede our ability to solve this urgent problem in the near term. The incident at KaLanga is a painful reminder that such occurrences have happened before, as we recall a similar incident at Tambankulu that resulted in a player being hospitalised,” he said. The PLE relies on government for the ambulances. It was previously reported that hiring a private ambulance can cost up to E4 000 per game. Unfortunate In response to the unfortunate incident involving the Highlanders player, the Acting CEO of PLE, expressed his sincere well wishes for a swift recovery for Magagula. Recognising the gravity of the situation and the toll it has taken on both the player and the team, he emphasised the importance of prioritising player health and safety in all PLE matches, while also acknowledging the need for long-term solutions to address the ongoing issue. Meanwhile, a source within the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) revealed that the recent acquisition of eight ambulances and an emergency stockpile by the Ministry of Health, had fostered hope that the situation with regard to ambulance coverage at PLE games would improve. The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, expressed a belief that the bolstered resources would potentially help ease the burden on EMS and allow for more comprehensive coverage of matches, across the country. “Speaking candidly, the reality of our ambulance shortage is dire, with only one functional ambulance serving the Mbabane region and several others awaiting repairs. As an EMS worker, I can confidently express that we are desperately hoping that the recently acquired ambulances will be allocated to us, alleviating the intense pressure on our resources and enabling us to provide more comprehensive coverage, not only in Mbabane but across the entire country. This would be a significant step towards ensuring that PLE matches receive the vital ambulance coverage they require,” the source said. However, an impeccable source, privy to the situation, stated that the ambulances and emergency stockpile, worth E23.8 million, were designated solely for use in hospitals and emergency scenarios. According to this source, the ambulances are not intended for allocation to PLE matches. The situation, it appeared, had become more complex, with potential ramifications for the league’s ability to provide adequate safety measures for its matches. Stringent In an effort to address the issue of ambulances availability during matches, the PLE announced stringent regulations for the previous season, stipulating that any team refusing to play, due to a lack of an ambulance at a stadium would be subject to punishment. The PLE made its position clear: teams found guilty of refusing to play, would face the consequences of forfeiting the match and being fined up to E50 000. As the issue persisted, the PLE reached an agreement with EMS to take over, as the sole service provider for ambulances in all league matches. During that particular time period, when Kenneth Makhanya served as the Chief Executive Officer of PLE, he vocalised the organisation’s commitment to the safety and well-being of players, spectators, and staff. Exorbitant Cognisant of the exorbitant costs of ambulance services, that had previously contributed to disruptions and cancellations of matches, Makhanya revealed that the PLE had taken the onus of providing EMS at all league venues. This initiative, the former CEO explained, was undertaken to safeguard the health and well-being of all individuals present at league matches, thereby ensuring a smooth and safe experience for everyone.