Times Of Swaziland: COVID-19 RULES FLOUTED

COVID-19 RULES FLOUTED
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BY THEMBA ZWANE AND PHOLSILE HLOPHE on 27/04/2021 08:04:00


MBABANE – The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) and match commissioners are at
loggerheads as some teams are flouting the COVID-19 regulations openly.
The Times Sports Desk has been made aware that several cases have been fingered,
where team players and officials who do not have COVID-19 results have been
allowed to enter restricted areas inside the stadiums.
According to highly-placed sources, PLE and match commissioners are at
loggerheads as the latter are enforcing the COVID-19 rules as per the
competition rules and regulations. “The Eswatini Football Association (EFA)
and PLE asked that government allow top flight and organised football to resume
promising that COVID-19 rules and regulations will be adhered to.
Monitored
“The consensus was that players will test for COVID-19 and be monitored daily
but this is not happening,” claimed a source. According to sources, PLE
COVID-19 compliance officers and teams COVID-19 compliance officers allegedly
secretly agree to allow players and officials who either do not have COVID-19
results or results suspected not to be authentic to enter the stadium and go to
the first and second zones where other players and officials might be exposed.
“Some of the players and officials pretend as if they have tested for COVID-19
but when the match commissioner checks their names against the list submitted by
the football governing body it transpires that they never tested but they appear
on team lists,” alleged a source. The sources claimed this was the reason some
match commissioners are at times forced not to allow some players and officials
to be on the bench during games.
“The PLE has accused match commissioners of overstepping but match
commissioners are following rules to protect the players and other officials,”
alleged a source.
Noteworthy is that Match Commissioner Bhekizizwe Mkhabela ordered Tinyosi head
coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane not to sit on the bench on Sunday when they
played against Mhlume Peacemakers and lost 0-1 in an MTN Premier League
encounter at Tambankulu Stadium. The former Royal Leopard coach had to carry out
his coaching duties while seated at the stands.
Disclosed
When asked why he could not lead his team on the day, Ntibane disclosed that he
did not have valid COVID-19 test results as per the requirement of the PLE.