WOMEN’S FOOTBALL IN TATTERS

MBABANE – The aggrieved teams in the women’s football saga have threatened to report the National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS) to FIFA.

In a letter leaked to this publication, the teams decry that the NFAS is failing to resolve their issues wherein the members of the Women Football Association (WFA) are strongly contesting the results of the association elective General Assembly seven months ago.

The six aggrieved teams as per court papers where the matter was heard and referred back to the NFAS and its structures are; Royal Leopard, Lobamba Highlanders, Mbekelweni, Shiselweni Roses, Siteki Ladies and Southern Divas. To date, their quest appears doomed because the NFAS has not assisted as they seek redress.

The teams want an interim committee to be put in place and argue the current executive is in office illegally. It will seem the threat of taking the matter to FIFA has triggered the NFAS and called the aggrieved teams to a meeting last Wednesday which had to be postponed to a later date this month as the six felt it was short notice. 
For the sake of progress, the WFA is continuing with its league games but some teams have refused to play while others registered outside the FIFA registration period. As a result, it is alleged that some teams are using provisional playing cards as per a directive from the NFAS. 

WFA General Secretary Aaron ‘Katalala’ Mavimbela confirmed in an interview that some teams are using the provisional playing cards.
“We cannot at all stop operations or playing because a few members are absconding. The idea of having teams at the end of the day is to play football,” he said.  

The letter in part reads, “Kindly note that tour unwillingness or uncooperative attitude to engage over the matter has left us with no other option and/or alternative but to seek FIFA’s intervention with immediate effect.”
Women’s Football recently secured a E75 000 sponsorship from SwaziBank but to date, since the announcement of the deal by the bank’s Managing Director Zakhele Lukhele during the 2018 edition launch at Esibayeni Lodge, there has been no launch. The SwaziBank Cup for elite men teams will enter the last 16 stage this weekend.

SwaziBank Public Relations Officer Phesheya Vilakati he was not sure what was delaying the launch of the women’s tournament.

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