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LEOPARD’S EDWIN, HLETA IN HOT SOUP

10/11/2021 08:37:00 BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO

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MBABANE – Royal Leopard coach Edwin Matsebula and medic Christian Hleta will face the wrath of the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Disciplinary Committee (DC).

The duo is reportedly cited in the match officials’ reports for Saturday’s scuffle during the MTN Premier League game against Mbabane Swallows played at Mavuso Sports Centre. The teams clashed outside the field of play during the game’s added time and Leopard coach Edwin Matsebula had to be whisked away in a police van as Swallows fans bayed for his blood while Hleta was shown a red card by the referee, Mbongeni Shongwe.

Mbabane Swallows were also not left out as their fans’ unsportsman-like behaviour was also implicated in the reports that were submitted to the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) offices. The club will face the charge of failing to control their fans during the game and that charge carries a E25 000 maximum fine. They may also be fined a summarily fine of not less than E25 000 by the DC for failing to control fans, supporters, official and marshals.

Charges

A source close to the matter confirmed that the reports submitted to the PLE implicated the two Leopard officials and the Swallows fans. The source said the PLE Prosecutor is yet to draft the charges to be faced by all the parties involved. The duo of Matsebula and Hleta will face a fine of not less than E40 000, according to the Article 7, 1: “Assaulting a referee, PLE official, player, club official, marshal, supporter, fan, spectator or the use of excessive force shall be punished with a fine of not less than E40 000 by the DC. In addition, the offending club shall be ordered to compensate the victim for any financial loss incurred due to the assault.

Mbabane Swallows defender Kingsley Kwakyi was involved in a clash with Leopard’s speedy winger Bonginkhosi ‘Manyovu’ Dlamini inside the field of play in that infuriated Leopard technical area. It was unclear if blows were exchanged as the scuffle got intense. Officials from the red and white Swallows technical bench led by head coach Christopher Ennin also went across to their rivals’ side as well as their supporters, forcing police officers to take swift action and bring calm to the situation.

Safety

The match proceeded to the end as four minutes of stoppage time had been added and at the end of the match, Coach Edwin Matsebula was whisked away in a police van for safety. Leopard won the opening match 1-0 and took home the maximum points. PLE Chief Operations Officer (COO) Pat Vilakati said they were still to go through the reports as their deadline was due yesterday afternoon. He said once they had gone through them with the prosecutor, they would then know what charges to be preferred to those implicated in the matter.