AFTER YOUNG BUFFALOES’ BUS SHOOTING INCIDENT … TIGHT SECURITY FOR ‘FORCES’ TEAMS

MBABANE – Security was tight for Royal Leopard on Wednesday afternoon and it is going to be even stiffer for all the three security forces teams in the Premier division.

These teams are Leopard (police), Young Buffaloes (army) and Green Mamba (Correctional Services). They have all had to beef up their security for players and team officials during games. This is in the wake of the country’s ongoing political unrest, spilling into the elite domestic league last Saturday. Unknown gunmen opened fire at a Buffaloes bus ferrying players from an MTN Premier League match in Nhlangano at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium, as they drove along Mehlwabovu. At least three shots were fired but no one was hit and no arrests were made.

Danger

Leopard played rookies Nsingizini Hotspurs at the same venue, so they had to travel from their base in Matsapha to the southern part of the country for the match. Pretty much aware of the threat and possible danger, the team used its bus but they were under tight security provided by ununiformed police all the way to the stadium and back. The news that the police team bus was also an alleged target started circulating after 4pm on match day as it was posted on Facebook that a certain grey VW Polo was busy making rounds between Nhlangano/Gege and Mankayane routes. However, there was no reported incident of any attack on the team. It has been learnt that these teams have communicated with the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) over the security threat they are facing and recommended among other things that fixtures start earlier.

Start

Matches would often start at 1pm, 3:30pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 8pm. However, Leopard’s game with Nsingizini was changed from an initial 3pm to 2pm kick-off and finished early, just before 4pm. This weekend, the fixtures had initially been scheduled to start at noon before an amendment to 1pm, 3pm and 3:30pm. Worth noting is that the security forces teams, Buffaloes and Green Mamba, will kick off their matches at 1pm against Denver Sundowns and Tambankulu Callies at KaLanga on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Leopard will play at 3pm against rookies Seven Dreams at KaLanga Technical Centre on Sunday as well in a game they have to redeem themselves in after going down 0-1 to Nsingizini.

Ensure

“There’ll be enough security for our players to feel safe. We will ensure that we get adequate security for them as this situation is not good and wrong for football. As FIFA says the sport should not mix with politics and discrimination, but create lasting friendships. We’ve also met with PLE over the issue; we believe they will make certain adjustments in the fixtures,” a Green Mamba official responded on condition of anonymity when questioned about the state of the affairs and the measures they were putting in place if any but for security reasons. Leopard’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Frank Hurube was caught in a meeting and asked to be called later, but when he was called again a couple of hours later, his phone rang unanswered. Their colleague Sandile Gwebu who is Buffaloes’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was also sought though in vain, but a source close to the team said every match day would require special security for the club and it was expected to be availed after what befell the club last week. PLE CEO Kenneth Makhanya asked to be sent a message as he was engaged elsewhere to respond immediately. However, he had not responded to all questions sent to him by close of business yesterday.

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