ALLOW FANS INTO STADIUMS – SUPPORTERS

MBABANE – Elite league teams’ supporters said they were disappointed by the continued ban of fans in the stadiums.

The Government of Eswatini through the Prime Minister (PM) Cleopas Sipho Dlamini on October 16, 2021 after observing the drastical decline of COVID-19 new cases as well as deaths eased some of the COVID-19 restrictions. Worth noting on the PM’s speech was that the entertainment industry regulations were relaxed to allow the industry to breathe. The PM said outdoor entertainment was now allowed a maximum of 500 people.

With the sports industry, however, no spectators were allowed at any sporting activity in the country. This has not gone down well with football fans as they were hopeful that government would consider lifting the ban of supporters and fans from watching their teams in stadiums. Mbabane Highlanders National Supporters Committee (NSC) Chairman Kenneth Dlamini said they were very disappointed by government’s stance in not allowing them back into the stadiums. He said the vaccination campaign by the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE), Eswatini Football Association (EFA) and football supporters would be dealt a major blow. “We were of the view that after some of us took the jab, government would then allow those who had vaccinated into the stadiums,” Dlamini said.

ban

He also said after the decision by government not to lift the ban, the unvaccinated supporters would see no reason of vaccinating. “The vaccination drive did not only help the football industry but the country as well in the fight against the virus, as many people were taking the jab with the hope of being allowed to watch their favourite teams play in stadiums,” he said. On the other hand Manzini Wanderers NSC Chairman Mthunzi Dlamini said he was hoping that government would allow a certain percentage of the vaccinated supporters back to the stadium.

vaccinated

“I thought government was going to allow us back to the stadium, say maybe starting with 100 vaccinated supporters from each team.” He also shared the same sentiments as those of his counterpart at Highlanders that people would not vaccinate, because they would see no reason to vaccinate since they would not be allowed to watch their teams. “The supporters were motivated to vaccinate because they were hoping that when the league starts they would be allowed back into the stadiums. What is going to motivate them now?” he wondered.

The PLE/EFA and supporters initiated a vaccination campaign to encourage football supporters to vaccinate so that government would consider lifting the ban of football supporters and fans from going to stadiums. The vaccination drive road-shows were postponed last weekend due to the political unrest witnessed across the country. It was supposed to be held in the Lubombo region in Siteki.

roadshows

The vaccination campaign road-shows were launched in the Manzini region at the Millennium Park, where a number of people were vaccinated. It then went to the Shiselweni region, which was followed by the Hhohho region. The next road-show was supposed to be held in the Lubombo region but was postponed by the PLE.  The Adjusted Level 1 measures as announced by the Prime Minister remain in effect until government decides otherwise.

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