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‘SAWA’ OUT OF INGWENYAMA CUP

12/12/2018 00:53:00 BY CHRIS DLAMINI

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MBABANE – It’s a blow for Mbabane Highlanders! Their top scorer so far this season with four goals, defender-cum-forward, Sabelo ‘Sawa’ Gamedze will not play any part in the team’s Ingwenyama Cup 2018 knockout opening this weekend.

‘Sawa’ has been nabbed by the yellow card rule in the MTN Premier League.

“According to the record filed at the PLE Office, the above mentioned player has accumulated three (3) yellow cards. In terms of Article 6.2 of the MTN Premier League 2018/19 Rules and Regulations, the player is suspended from participating in the next one match by his team,” reads a correspondence sent to Highlanders by the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) yesterday.

Suspension

The letter further emphasises that the team must ensure that the suspension is adhered to as the League’s Rules and Regulations, and that they were free to seek clarification from the PLE Office if any was required.

Failure to do so, according to the rules in Article 6.2 (f), (g) and (h) will result in Highlanders forfeiting the match and a further three months suspension for the player who is treated as a defaulter. Further, upon protest by the opposing team, shall be found guilty of misconduct and shall be liable to the game forfeiting three points and three goals to the opposing club and shall further be fined not less than E5 000.

The rule that currently keeping ‘Sawa’ out of the lucrative Ingwenyama Cup’s fourth edition is Article6.2 (a), which provides that ‘Any player who accumulates three (3) cautions (i.e.
‘yellow cards’) in any season shall be suspended from participation in the next one (1) match to be played by his team in any official competition under the auspices of the PLE’.

PLE CEO Simanga Nhleko confirmed the suspension of the player, who scored Highlanders winner over the weekend against rivals Manzini Wanderers at Mavuso Sports Centre last Saturday. He scored from the spot kick.
Highlanders’ PRO Paul ‘Magidz’eludzakeni’ Masilela, could neither confirm nor deny the matter but referred all questions to their CEO Kenneth Nkambule, who responded to the affirmative.