COMICAL!

NHLANGANO – Comical.

This is what best describes the drama that led to the abandonment of the MTN Premier League match between Mbabane Swallows and Moneni Pirates, which was set to take place yesterday afternoon at the King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium in Nhlangano. The match was scheduled for a 12:30pm kickoff but it did not take off despite that both teams had arrived on time. The bone of contention, it later turned out, was the refusal by Pirates to remove captain Menzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane from their match squad as per instruction from Match Commissioner Bhekizizwe Mkhabela. It transpired that ‘Magawugawu’ could not produce COVID-19 negative test result hence Mkhabela demanded that the player be removed and replaced on the list but the player, with the backing of the club’s officials, refused to bulge, defiantly proceeding into the field of play despite pleas from the match officials.

complaining

The player was overheard complaining bitterly that Mkhabela allegedly had a personal vendetta agenda against him, making it clear to all those who cared to listen that he will not listen to Mkhabela’s directive. Indeed, he remained in the field of play with the rest of his teammates as match officials pondered on the next move through consultations. Even police officers were called in by Mkhabela in a bid to have ‘Magawugawu’ forcefully removed from the pitch, but the law enforcers were reluctant to act. After over an hour of waiting, Mkhabela, through consultation with the match day referees and representatives from both teams, took the dreaded decision to call off the match before the ball could even be kicked. This now leaves the fate of the match to the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE), which must take a decision based on match officials’ reports including that of Mkhabela.

Interviewed shortly after the cancellation of the match, Mkhabela explained that the decision was caused by failure of Pirates to remove ‘Magawugawu’ from the team list as ordered. “Magawugawu could not produce COVID-19 result proving that he tested negative as required by the rules and regulations governing the games. I instructed that he be removed, but this was defied and in line with provisions of the rules, the decision to call off the match had to be taken,” he said. Pirates’ Puma Simelane was sought for comment and his reaction was that they did nothing wrong.

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