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TURMOIL AS ‘WESLIANS’ LOSE AGAIN

24/09/2018 03:43:00 BY ASHMOND NZIMA

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(At King Sobhuza Stadium)
Leopard................... (1)2
Lungelo 14th, Junior 73rd
Wanderers............... (1)1
Funukwenzani 12th

NHLANGANO – A commotion at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium almost spoilt a treasured 2-1win for log leaders Royal Leopard yesterday.

Moments after Leopard cemented their top spot with a 2-1 win over stuttering Manzini Wanderers in Nhlangano, the unthinkable happened. Police officers from the Operational Support Service Unit (OSSU), who were on duty at the stadium, fired stun grenades to disperse a section of the visiting team’s supporters who were allegedly fighting each other at the far end of the venue.

In the process, Manzini Wanderers CEO Pat Mahlalela’s car’s side windows were smashed, while most people ran for cover.
The turmoil, which lasted less than five minutes, took place after most people had left the venue and journalists were walking out of the stadium offices that were used for the media’s post-match interviews.

Reports from eyewitnesses who saw the entire drama from the onset suggested that when police tried to stop the supporters who were reported to be quarrelling, some allegedly reacted by fighting the police.

The latter ended up firing the gunshots, which could be heard several metres from outside the stadium.
Just after the skirmish, Mahlalela and other officials were seen in a heated argument with the police in reaction to the damaged vehicle. He left the venue afterwards and when he was called for comment, he said he was advised to report the matter to the Nhlangano police.
“I’m at Nhlangano Police Station to report the matter right now.

“It is the office of the PLE CEO that can give a full account of the matter, as I have just reported it,” said Mahlalela.
Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) CEO Simanga Nhleko, when called last night, said his office would wait for an official report from stadium representatives on the incident.

“We’ll wait for an official report and then we’ll take it from there,” he said.
Meanwhile, the result helped the police outfit to maintain their 100 per cent record after winning all three matches.
Despite an early scare from the goal-shy Wanderers, who noticeably missed their newly-signed forward Mfanufikile ‘Fash’ Ndzimandze; Leopard rallied to grind their result on unfamiliar territory.