EX-PLE CEO BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SIMANGA SCOOPS TOP REFS POST IN STYLE

MBABANE – Retired international referee and former PLE Chief Executive Officer Simanga Nhleko is on course to take over as the new ERA boss.

It was reliably gathered that Nhleko, who parted ways with the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) over four years ago, under dramatic circumstances, was nominated for the position of Eswatini Referees Association (ERA) chairman, with Ezrom Dlamini and Petros Mbingo. The vacancies within the ERA Executive Committee were triggered by the resignations of the former Chairman, Jabulani Motsa, and Phinda Dlamini, earlier this year, under unclear circumstances. Ezrom is currently a Match Commissioner, and Mbingo is a retired Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) Assistant Referee. The latter has just pulled the plug on his illustrious career, spanning almost two decades.

The requirements or conditions for one to contest the chairmanship position within ERA are stated in Article 34 of the organisation’s Statutes. “For a candidate to be eligible to stand for the position of chairman of the ERA, in addition to confirming to the requirements as stipulated in Article 34 of these Statutes, shall have been a member of the ERA for a continued period of four years,” reads Article 38(5) in part. This publication established through impeccable sources, that both Ezrom and Petros were never part of the ERA Executive Committee, while Nhleko served in various positions in the organisation. They include but not limited to being a member, assistant secretary general, and secretary general.

In the last election, Nhleko was nominated and lost the elections to Motsa, the former chairman, by a small margin. The meeting will also elect the treasurer, a position left vacant by Phinda, who also resigned together with Motsa. The nominees for this position are Enock Silenge, the former Treasurer who lost to Phinda in the last election, as well as Kuhle Mkhatjwa and Banele Nhlengetfwa. The latter is the assistant secretary general and current acting treasurer. In a notice dated June 15, 2024, it was stated that the ordinary general assembly would be held on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at a venue and time to be communicated in due course, in conformity with the ERA Statutes.

Nominations should be sent to the Secretariat (General Secretary) as per Articles 26(4) and (5), of the ERA Statutes. When Shongwe was contacted for comment and confirmation of the nominations, he politely declined and told this journalist that issues of elections were handled by the EFA Ethics Committee. Nhleko also politely declined to comment when contacted by this newspaper. Meanwhile, Nhleko, who is an attorney by profession, is known to the football fraternity as one of the former finest referees to have graced Eswatini football.  He controlled football matches with aplomb and authority. After he left the PLE, the latter was ordered to pay him E670 000 for breach of contract.

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