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FIFA’S E1.3M GRANT FOR PLS

14/08/2016 06:53:00 BY BHEKISISA MAGONGO

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MBABANE – FIFA has availed about E1.3 Million that the Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) could grab for the Under-17 and 20 leagues every season for the next five years.

Visiting FIFA Youth Expert Govinden Thondoo from Mauritius spent a week in the country inspecting projects that could be funded by the world football mother body. He was here from 24 to 29 July, and could return next week for more inspection.
The two leagues stand to benefit from the FIFA Forward’s annual running costs funding programme which has availed $50 000 (E650 000 based on current exchange rate) per year for each league. The project is a brain child of newly appointed FIFA President Gianni Infantino. However, there are certain conditions attached to the funding which the PLS has to meet before they get the funds. Currently, the Under-17 league is sponsored to the tune of E200 000 by Esibayeni Lodge, with the Under-20 league fully catered for by the PLS.

The expert according to our sources met with representatives from the PLS where they were seeking information about the format of the Under-17 and 20 youth leagues which were incepted about three seasons ago.
“The expert much as he appreciated the establishment of both leagues, he was only concerned that it was a one-legged. He also urged PLS to implore teams to fully adopt the junior teams as their own, hire qualified coaches among other conditions,” disclosed the source.

PLS CEO John Mazibuko could only confirm that his organisation met the Mauritian born FIFA official, but was quick to state that they were still going to make recommendations to the executive committee.
“We were told about the available finances, and that after FA President Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa had also announced during the AGM about the availability of funds for juniors league. ,” he said.

He said the organisation sent Chief Operations Officer (COO) Petros Vilakati and Development Officer Banele Masondo who has ensured the smooth running of the organisation’s juniors’ tournaments.

Information sourced from the FIFA website availed a host of funding for member organisations as long as they comply with specific areas of development. There is plenty of funding too for women football, good governance. The FA can also access money for goal projects for pitches.