‘WE’LL HOST ON OPEN GROUNDS’

MBABANE – Nothing will stop the Ingwenyama Cup Management Committee (MC) from hosting games outside the Mbabane-Manzini corridor.

A number of individuals have openly criticised the MC of poor planning by hosting games of high magnitude at stadia situated in regions or towns out of the Mbabane-Manzini corridor.

The stadia in question are Nsukuwansuku in Mhlume, Killarney in Pigg’s Peak and King Sobhuza in Nhlangano.
These stadia had become common venues for big games which feature the big three.

Safety

The argument is that these are ‘open stadia’ and therefore the safety of the players is compromised and altercation between supporters or team officials can easy ensue.
The debate was exacerbated after capital giants, Mbabane Highlanders and Vovovo FC’s Last 16 game was interrupted due to a brawl that started between Highlanders’ supporters and Vovovo’s officials.

Referee Mbongiseni Fakudze had to call it off as there was power blackout, something which others suspected was foul play.
The fight also disrupted a game that was played earlier between Moneni Pirates and Matsapha United.
New Sihlangu head coach, Kostadin Papic, had just arrived to watch his first game in Eswatini when he went to Mayaluka Stadium in Big Bend where Young Buffaloes beat Tambuti 3-0 after penalties and Royal Leopard won 2-0 against Manzini Wanderers.

Displeasure

The coach was reported to have also expressed displeasure regarding hosting such important fixtures on ‘open grounds’.
It was scorching hot on the day and it heavily rained later in the afternoon while the spectators had no shelter.

On Tuesday, during the Ingwenyama Cup regional semi-finals draw, the Ingwenyama Cup Public Relations Officer (PRO) Nkosilenhle ‘Makawosi’ Masuku said there was no way in which they would  stop hosting the games on ‘open grounds’.

“We will not stop taking the games to the people. Since the first edition, we hosted the games at these stadia. What has changed now?” he asked rhetorically.
Masuku said the important thing was for supporters, football officials and all stakeholders to revert to respecting the game.
He argued on how one could define an ‘open ground’.

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