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SAD DAY FOR FOOTBALL – PLE CHAIRPERSON

20/05/2024 16:05:00 Nimrod Hlophe

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LOBAMBA – The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Chairman, Mark Carmichael, is sympathetic to the relegation of Manzini’s iconic clubs Wanderers and Denver Sundowns.

“It’s indeed a sad day for football, especially for Manzini. These are the issues we need to address going forward in resourcing clubs,” Carmichael said yesterday after the grand closing at Somhlolo National Stadium yesterday. The Sundowns chairman mentioned that ensuring clubs were equally financed could level the playing field, making the competition based on an equal platform. Wanderers and Sundowns have been relegated to the National First Division (NFD) after finishing at the bottom of the charts of the MTN Premier League.
However, the former have lodged a protest. “Yes, I’m confident that Wanderers will bounce back as we go down to come back up. It’s a game of survival where, at the end of the season, some teams will be swallowed, and unfortunately, they became victims,” he further said.

Relegation

On his part, he noted various factors contributed to Sundowns’ relegation. One major problem has been the financial woes affecting the team. He affirmed his commitment to stay with the team even in the lower division. “Football is in my blood, and Sundowns is my life. I’m proud of being associated with the premier league for 15 years and unearthing talent. We play with young talent, and these are some of the challenges you face with playing development football,” Carmichael said. He further expressed gratitude to MTN Eswatini for sponsoring the league and noted it was a competitive competition throughout his four-year term in office. He also thanked all partners who supported football post-COVID-19.

Meanwhile, former Mbabane Swallows President, Arch-Bishop Bheki Lukhele, has promised to be involved in any activity of the MTN Premier League champions. Lukhele made this statement in response to the team’s goal of competing in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) inter-club competitions. By conquering the league, they also won the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League spot. In 2018 when he ascended to power with the city giants, he said that his goal was to take the club back to Africa. “As I came out publicly that I’m a ‘Bird’ by birth, regardless of the position I hold. So if you are part of the family, you are part of every event that is there in that family. So, I’m a family member of the Swallows,” said Lukhele.

Also watching yesterday’s festivities was Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima, who assured that there were plans to ensure Somhlolo National Stadium would be ready by the time Swallows began their CAF campaign.