‘MADZE’ MUST ANSWER ON SITSEBE SAGA – MINISTER

MBABANE – How did the country’s senior women national football team Sitsebe Samhlekazi players and officials breach the stipulated COVID-19 guidelines?

This is the question that many are asking themselves and this includes the Ministry of Health among others, which expects answers from Minister Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga, who heads the Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Ministry. As reported yesterday by the Times of Eswatini newspaper, some players and at least two officials were confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19 after they were tested a few days upon returning from South Africa, where they participated in the 2020 COSAFA Women’s Championship. 

The team returned last week and instead of being taken back to camp for testing and receiving results first, they were allowed to go their separate ways despite the stipulated football and government covid-19 rules. 

The covid-19 protocol dictates that the team should have tested at least within 72 hours of return from South Africa, got their results before they re-joined their families or next of kins. At least three players and two officials were said to be positive.

“The advice is very clear and fine. It tells us to social distance properly and football has very specific protocols to follow and contact sports are dangerous, but let me talk to my colleague because I saw him and tried to ask him what happened. We didn’t finish talking but I did ask him to explain to us what happened.

“Please talk to him and find out, maybe he’ll explain what happened as even to the guidelines, they are there and part of threshold so, I don’t know what happened,” Health Minister Lizzie Nkosi responded when she was questioned about the Sitsebe case as it appeared that the pandemic’s regulations in as far as football is concerned were breached.

Even the Director of Health Services, Dr Vusi Magagula, said the football sector knew exactly what their compliance required as they were given their protocol, so this was for them to explain. Comment from Bulunga or at least his ministry was sought earlier in the day and soon after Minister Nkosi had also commented on the matter, clearly referring it to his ministry.

“The Ministry expects all sports associations to strictly adhere to health protocols and conditions as agreed for their reopening. In this instance, we will investigate this matter to get to the truth and not rely on unverified information,” responded Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs’ Communications Officer Sibongiseni Zindo after he was reached for comment. 

The EFA Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe denied the matter yesterday despite that more than one publication reported it.

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