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OUT OF TOUCH!

11/06/2020 00:28:00 BY SABELO NDZINISA

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MBABANE – Confusion is reigning supreme at the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE).

Hardly 24 hours after the PLE Board of Governors (BoGs) moved a motion to declare the current football season null and void, the organisation has since issued a memorandum to members, which tells a different story. The BoGs meeting was held at Sigwaca House on Tuesday afternoon and attended by close to 20 members representing the elite teams, including those from the first division.

Distributed

The memorandum, signed by Chief Operations Officer (COO) Pat Vilakati and distributed to the 26 PLE affiliates yesterday afternoon, does not mention the resolution by the BoGs to have the current season nullified.

Actually, the impression the memorandum is giving is that Premier League teams are proposing the resumption of the games when the contrary is true.
Adding to the confusion in the same letter directed to the members is the revelation that Manzini Wanderers chairman Bongani ‘Bhanyaza’ Mdluli is not heading the sub-committee appointed to compile a comprehensive report on COVID-19.

This is despite that it was announced in a press conference soon after Tuesday’s meeting that Mdluli would be leading this committee. According to the memorandum, Andreas Lukhele of Mbabane Swallows has been appointed the chairman while Mdluli is listed as an ex-officio member. Other members of the committee are Elyan Masuku (Hlatikhulu Tycoons) and Sibusiso ‘Scorpion’ Nxumalo.

It is also stated that PLE affiliates are requested to submit an operational monthly budget by reasonable evidence of their expenditure.
“Further include a provision for the estimated expenditure to comply with the health and safety guidelines as stipulated by government and EFA. This includes fumigating of club houses, training facilities and transport, provision of PPE (personal protective equipment) and maintaining social distance,” the letter states.
The members have further been given until tomorrow to formulate their health and safety budget with the assistance of their respective team doctors.

Contacted

Some of the BoGs contacted yesterday, confirmed the memorandum and warned of dire consequences as they feel disrespected by the Peter ‘Touch’ Magagula-led executive committee.
“The memorandum is in defiance of the resolution by the governors to nullify the current season.

What is contained in the memorandum is not what was discussed in the meeting yesterday (Tuesday) and we will challenge it,” one of the governors said. Efforts were made to get a comment from the PLE COO, but his cellphone was off at the time of going to press last night.