REGIONAL FOOTBALL BACK IN NOVEMBER

LOBAMBA – There is light at the end of tunnel.

Regional footballers will be elated to learn that they will soon be back on the field in early November after 20 months of non-action. Regional football was suspended last year in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and since the then there has been no action. Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngomezulu announced yesterday that first to kick start the season would be the three elite leagues being the MTN Premier League, MTN National First Division and the Women’s Football League on the weekend of October 8-10, 2021. Mngomezulu said the EFA Executive Committee decided that the 2021/2022 football season will commence in a staggered re-introduction of football leagues and competitions.

Requirements

Mngomezulu said this was in response to the fundamental requirements for the instigation of football competitions across all levels and contemporary engagements with the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini on the COVID-19 evolution and mitigation strategies, on assuring an innocuous return of football. “The Premier League, the National First Division League and the Women’s Football National League were decided to commence their respective leagues’ competitions for the 2021/ 22 season on October 8/9/10, 2021. Regional Super Leagues and other Regional leagues were decided to commence, when most probable from November the 6th and 7th 2021, subject to contemporary engagements with the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini on the execution of lower leagues,” he said. Meanwhile, Mngomezulu said a direction on the implementation of youth and development competitions will be communicated in due course, considering the COVID-19 pandemic and any other impending factors.

Sponsors

“Engagement of respective sponsors and pertinent partners EFA hereby directs EFA members and their respective leagues to consequently engage with their respective sponsors and pertinent partners on this development to finalise the logistics of the commencement and implementation of the 2021/2022 season,” he added. He urged teams to register players as registration was opened on September 13 and it will close on November. “All administrative preparatory logistics for the successful implementation of the 2021/2022 season, which include registration and licensing workshops, match officials’ workshops and courses in readiness for the new season, have already commenced implementation, with some, especially those affecting the leagues to commence in October 2021,” he concluded.

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