EMPTY STADIUMS PROPOSAL

MBABANE – The premier League season could end in an unfamiliar fashion as the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) might be forced to host games in empty stadiums if the current coronavirus pandemic persists.

It has been gathered that some local Premier League teams want to forward a proposal to the PLE that would see the games being played in stadiums with no supporters as a way of preventing the spread of the virus. It is expected that this proposal will be tabled during the urgent PLE Board of Governors’ meeting today where the organisation’s members will be deliberating on the postponement of all elite league games by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) recently.

Some of the BOGs interviewed by this publication, shared the view that playing the games ‘behind closed doors’ would assist the football authorities to finish the season, which is now left with only a couple of months before conclusion. This comes at a time when Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini issued an order barring gathering of more than 50 people in a single place as part of the prevention measures against the virus.

Virus

“It is clear that the virus will not be eradicated anytime soon and as an option, playing the games in an empty stadium could really help under the circumstances because as it is, the season may not finish. Fair enough, playing in front of homes creates great excitement but we have to look at this in the bigger picture. If we want the season to finish, then we need to consider such options going forward,” one of the governors confided.

PLE Chairman Peter ‘Touch’ Magagula said meeting has been convened as a way of showing respect to the BOGs by taking their opinions on the matter. “It is with due respect that we call the governors to the meeting where we will make them aware of the situation that we find ourselves in. This is beyond our control and they will have to make their views concerning the current situation of coronavirus,” he said. PLE is already behind schedule in finishing the season with the MTN Premier League and EswatiniBank Cup put on hold.

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