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TEAMS GIVE PLS THUMBS UP

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MBABANE – Elite league teams have given the Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) the go-ahead to mete out the harshest penalties to offenders.


The PLS executive on Wednesday convened a media briefing where the organisation’s executive committee made known their intention of curbing the scourge of violence in the local game, especially now that the MTN League has reached a climax.
 Some of the harshest penalties, it was hinted, would be the docking of points from offending teams. These and more would be enforced in the remaining two MTN League games and others next season.


This follows various incidents in the different stadia in last weekend’s MTN League encounters, which the infuriated organisation notes is aimed at tarnishing their brand.
Interviewed yesterday, the PLS affiliates noted that what the executive plans to do is actually long overdue.


Army team, Young Buffaloes PRO Sandile Gwebu, whose team is also in the hunt for the elusive championship, said violence in the country’s game has reached alarming heights.
“The good thing is that as a team, we are hardly found to have been on the wrong side of the law, more especially because our supporters never fight. We believe in fighting on the field of play and not anywhere else.
“However, on a personal view, I think this is clearly getting out of hand to such an extent that one day a person will die on our football fields and perhaps it will only be then that the scourge of violence would be taken seriously and addressed. I support the PLS executive all the way in their stance to try and curb this,” said Gwebu


Correctional Services ensemble, Green Mamba Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Thami Phakathi shared similar views but was also quick to note that his team’s supporters are hardly found to be on the wrong side of the law.
“The PLS is right. It is their brand that is ultimately destroyed by such wayward behaviour during the games. This always tarnishes the image of the organisation and nothing else. As teams, we should all act responsibly and do introspection as well.


“Football is nothing but a sport after all. We have to accept results as they are and in the event your team loses a game, it does not mean the end of the world but it means you should go back to the drawing board and try to correct the mistakes which could have been exposed. Otherwise, as a team we say a big no to violence,” said the former scribe.


Mbabane Swallows acting CEO Sibusiso Manana, on the other hand, said they had been the biggest casualties of late, as rowdy supporters, even crowd their dressing rooms during half time of the team’s games.
“For four consecutive weeks now, as a team we have failed to have our halftime team talk as some hooligans, posing as soccer fans, attack us inside our own dressing rooms.
“We do not know what we should do now. We fear for our safety.


“It started during our two games against Royal Leopard. We experienced the same when we played against Mbabane Highlanders and now the last weekend’s incident against Manzini Wanderers. We are so much dismayed,” Manana said.
He urged the PLS to crack the whip on offenders.

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