MOCAMBOLA COULD SWITCH CALENDAR

MBABANE - While COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the sporting world, it has created the opportunity to reassess the business models of clubs and leagues, and find a new way forward.
The financial devastation of the pause in football has been keenly felt all over, but it has created conversations about what can be improved in the various countries.

Mozambique’s MocamBola is one of those leagues that are assessing their own future, and whether it is best to switch their calendar from the traditional April-December season to an August-May fixture list.

Align

This has become more prevalent in Africa as leagues seek to align with the European calendar, which makes the transfer of players easier and aligns club competitions with the international windows created by FIFA.
A number of countries in the COSAFA region follow this calendar, including South Africa, Angola, Zambia and Botswana and Eswatini.
The fact that the MocamBola has been unable to get its season underway in its usual April slot has perhaps created the opportunity to make the most to an August-May season, and it has won support from national team coach Luís Gonçalves.
“I can only see positive aspects with the change of the season. It will allow players who play outside the country and inside to be competing at the same time and on the same level in competitive terms,” he said.

Former Mbabane Swallows defender Richard Sewu said he was hopeful the season would be changed.The player is bound to join the Mozambican side, when eventually the league gets underway, on a two-year contract.
This is the same team which former Royal Leopard and Sihlangu midfleder Xolani ‘Papi’ Sikhondze plays for.

He signed a one-year contract last season which elapsed and was offered three more years.
“It will be a good move since whenever the season is over one can get to join other teams from other leagues.

Disadvantages

“It was really somehow a disadvantages of some sort that when the other league were ongoing in Mozambique its over in December,” said the Ghanaian player.
The matter is still to be discussed by league officials and the leadership of the Mozambique Football Federation.
Other leagues around the COSAFA region are still to make tentative plans to return to play, with the hope being that in the next few months we will see most back in action.

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