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FOOTBALL DAMP SQUIB!

04/11/2020 01:18:00 BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO

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MBABANE – It’s mission impossible for the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) to start the season in the next two weeks.

The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) had recently announced that the 2020/ 21 season would start after the FIFA week, starting on Monday ending on November 16, 2020. To be precise, EFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngomezulu, told media personnel during a press briefing at Sigwaca House that the new season would start on November 20, 2020.

Sources close to the matter indicated that it was impossible as a majority of the teams had not started pre-season training. “The season won’t be starting in November as indicated earlier by the EFA but late in December if not next year. There are a number of factors including that the teams are not ready to even start training after the COVID-19 pandemic. A majority of the teams have already indicated that they are struggling financially and it won’t be easy to resume training with the tough COVID-19 guidelines to be followed,” said the source.

The source added that other teams indicated that their players were in the national team, Sihlangu that is currently in camp preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers matches against Congo on November 12 away and four days later here at home at Mavuso Sports Centre.

PLE Chairman Mark Carmichael confirmed the news and said they would have to come up with a new date to start the season as now they were already behind the date put forward by EFA. He said it was true that some teams had raised concerns on that they were not ready to start the season.

Late

“We were hoping that the season would kick off late November but there is a lot that still needs to be done before we resume. We are still engaged in meetings and we will come up with a new date that would be announced to clubs and we want everyone to be ready to play when we start,” he added.

Some of the teams that have started training include Mbabane Swallows and Mbabane Highlanders. According to the schedule released by EFA last week during the media briefing, teams could be now playing friendly matches, having started training in small groups last week.

EFA is currently engaging team officials, teaching them about the COVID-19 guidelines that need to be followed. The season will resume without fans being allowed at the stadiums.