PLE RECOVERS E400 000

MBABANE – A lot of ground still has to be covered.

The over E2 million loan recovery initiative by the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) has brought an injection of less than E500 000 into the organisation’s bank account. 

Classified information gathered by the sports desk uncovered that while a number of elite and first division clubs had their participation fees docked for monies owed to the PLE, the recovered money is still not even a quarter of the over E2 million owed by the clubs.

trusted sources

Most of the premier league clubs, including Manzini Wanderers, Manzini Sea Birds, Moneni Pirates and Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows, did not get their E100 000 participation fees in full, according to our trusted sources at the PLE. 

For most of the owing clubs, it has reliably been gathered that E35 000 was docked across the board even though for others, like Wanderers, Black Swallows and Pirates, E60 000 was reportedly deducted hence they ended up getting E40 000 each as participation fee. Sea Birds had to sacrifice the entire E100 000 as they allegedly owe the PLE about E250 000, which means there is still a balance they must settle. 

For the rest of the owing teams, E35 000 was deducted, which means they ended up each receiving E65 000 as participation fee. First Division teams who have also began their 2020/2021 league campaign have not been sparred the whip.

participation fee

Information sourced is that the 14 teams in this division ended up each getting E8 000 participation fee despite that they are supposed to receive E20 000 as per the rules and regulations of their tournament. 

This, however, did not apply as the teams were initially given a timeframe to meet some conditions or risk having the deductions as already mentioned. 

“The first division teams were given the ultimatum to pay a deposit of E10 000 each for referees along with E2 000 (each) as affiliation fee. This totals up to E12 000 for each and it was mentioned that failure to meet these obligations would result in the money deducted from their participation fees. None of the teams could pay and they all ended up getting E8 000 each,” our trusted sources confided. 

Sea Birds’ co-director Sicelo Mkhonta was on record confirming that they forfeited their E100 000 to repay their PLE debt. PLE’ Chief Operations Officer (COO) Pat Vilakati said such matters were not for public discussion. 

condition of anonymity

However, some of the teams contacted, but preferring to speak on condition of anonymity, confirmed that a few of them received their participation fees in full. 

“The truth is that as clubs, we are owing the PLE and we cannot therefore complain when the organisation demands their money back. We have accepted the cuts in the participation fees,” said an official from one of the Mbabane top sides. 

It could not be immediately ascertained if any of the three security forces teams in Royal Leopard, Green Mamba and Young Buffaloes were affected by the deductions.     

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