FORCES TEAMS DENY UNFAIR ADVANTAGE

MBABANE – The debate over the involvement of security forces in the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) has started all over again.

The uproar has been ignited by Green Mamba’s move to recruit the out-of-contract duo of marksman Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa and industrious midfielder Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu, who were formerly with Mbabane Highlanders and Mbabane Swallows, respectively. In one of the reports tabled in this past Saturday at the PLE annual general meeting (AGM) at Sigwaca House in Mbabane, the elite football body’s affiliates got an update on the contentious issue. In the report tabled by the PLE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenneth Makhanya, before the members, it was stated that the uniformed forces had an unfair advantage over the other teams as they reportedly used resources from government.

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The forces teams that have always been wanted away from the elite league are Royal Leopard, Green Mamba and Young Buffaloes. The PLE appointed a committee last year, that was to look into the forces advantage over the other teams and the committee has already submitted the report that had been kept under wraps. In the report, the forces teams denied using government fuel when attending matches. “The armed forces submitted that they use their own resources to fill up fuel in the vehicles because government does not provide fuel,” reads part of the report. Even before the 2022/23 season kicks off, the forces teams and the civilian clubs are already up in arms over players.

The report raised concerns that the forces teams recruited players then posted them in outstations, which affected the players for the other teams. The forces teams replied that players loaned to other teams were free to play for those teams without hindrances. The civilian teams also suggested that gate takings against the armed forces teams should be shared on a ratio of 70:30 and some preferred 60:40. The report has not been adopted yet. This past Monday when ‘D4D’ completed a switch to Green Mamba, this publication was flooded with calls from different football officials. Others even went on to suggest that they should be denied gate takings.

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