EX-PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE PHINDA FOUND DEAD

MBABANE – Former Premier League referee Phinda Sihlongonyane has been found dead after allegedly committing suicide.

Sihlongonyane, who also used the surname Langwenya, was found hanging from the rafters already dead in his room at his home in Siphofaneni in the Lubombo Region yesterday. It could not be immediately ascertained what led to the death of the young man, who stopped officiating in Premier League games about three years ago, as attempts to get the family were fruitless at the time of compiling this report. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the latest developments, but said investigations were ongoing.

“He was found hanging inside the house already dead, but there was no suicide note in sight,” said Vilakati.  Recently, Phinda was in race to become a constituency headman (Indvuna Yenkhundla) in the recently-ended national elections, but was unsuccessful at the polls. However, this is not to suggest that the elections results are linked to his death. Phinda’s death came at a time when the Langwenya family was still mourning the demise of his father, Mangaliso, who was a match commissioner and a Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Executive Member. The latter died after a short illness on June 9 this year.

National Referees Association of Swaziland (NRAS) Chairman Sipho Kunene said his office learnt with shock about the developments through one of the referees, who is related to the deceased. Kunene politely asked to give a statement after meeting the family today. “It’s shocking, and we’re still coming to terms with the developments,” he said briefly. Phinda was one of the popular referees during his stint in top flight football. In 2014, he had an unsuccessful bid to get a FIFA badge. He was more into coaching recently.

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