Times Of Swaziland: PLE TEAMS FACE OVER E800K TESTING BILL

PLE TEAMS FACE OVER E800K TESTING BILL
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BY CHRIS DLAMINI on 08/01/2021 01:23:00


MBABANE – Ahead of the MTN Premier League games next weekend, clubs in the
Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) have the mammoth task of having their players
tested for COVID-19 following the festive break.
This, however, is a costly exercise – estimated to be around E892 500 for the
30 member teams under the PLE.
There are 16 elite teams and 12 in the second tier league. Each PCR test is E850
per head with government. Most clubs have registered a minimum 18 to maximum 25
players while they are allowed 30 maximum.
catered
At least E600 000 was budgeted by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA), which
catered for the costs of the first testing done for all teams ahead of the
season kickoff last December. As clubs have registered and continue to register
more players, each team, if they were to test 25 players and 10 officials, the
cost would be E29 750. Take this amount and multiply it by the 30 teams, it
totals up to a mouth-watering E892 500.
The rules and regulations of the league allow each team to have 50 people inside
the stadium, all tested and negative. However, it has so far been the big teams
that have utilised the 50-member advantage which, however, could soon prove too
costly as directors must fork out the testing money from their own pocket.
At least that is what the EFA Medical Committee Chairman Dr. Comfort Shongwe
recently made clear – that they will not be footing any testing bills for the
clubs, instead all teams must have the financial muscle to test their players
and officials. In any case, cut the bill down to 20 players and six officials,
it still stands at E22 100, but it is an open secret that the elite league has
clubs that do not have this much right now.
deductions
The PLE deductions effected on the E100 000 participation fees did not help
matters for some clubs, as they were already playing in empty stadiums without
any redress or compensation forthcoming from either PLE or EFA.
However, it is expected the EFA will assist clubs in terms of compensation for
the empty stadiums from the E9.4 million allocation by FIFA (Federation of
International Football Associations) as a COVID-19 Relief Plan for football.
This money was received by the EFA mid last year as FIFA wanted to help
associations save football under the challenging times.
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