GOVT, PLE IN TICKETS ROW

MBABANE – In an unprecedented move, the Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs ministry has written to the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) over the sale of match tickets.

In a letter addressed to EFA and copied to the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) last week, the ministry wanted to be involved by having access to the code used to monitor the sale of tickets. The ministry is entitled to at least10 per cent of the gate takings at Somhlolo National Stadium. Currently the PLE monitors the sale of tickets using their secret code. After games relevant stakeholders, who include the Ministry, are shown the total number of tickets sold before they get their share. The ministry further gets a detailed statement, with a full breakdown.

The ministry feels this is not enough, as it still wants to have access to the code alongside the Auditor General’s office. Sought for comment, Communications Officer in the Ministry Sibongiseni Zondi said this was being done for controls. “As a Ministry, we’re strengthening all our controls, including gate collections at Somhlolo National Stadium, to ensure that all that is due to government is duly collected,” he said. Impeccable sources suggested the elite football office was not happy about the move and it could lead to a deadlock.

Collision

“As it stands, government and PLE are on a collision course,” alleged an impeccable source. PLE Chairman Peter ‘Touch’ Magagula referred comments to CEO Simanga Nhleko, saying he was out of the country for the better part of the past week. The latter was unreachable through his phone. He could not be contacted through the office number, as it was a holiday yesterday. Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe said he was yet to learn about the latest developments, as he was out of his office since last Thursday. Meanwhile, the ticketing system is new in the country following its introduction this season.  It was done for accountability and transparency purposes following concerns on unsatisfactory collections. Teams felt what they took home was not a true reflection of numbers at stadia.

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