Times Of Swaziland: UPROAR OVER 15-YEAR QUALIFICATION FOR CHAIRMAN, SECRETARY

UPROAR OVER 15-YEAR QUALIFICATION FOR CHAIRMAN, SECRETARY
================================================================================
BY SABELO NDZINISA on 28/04/2021 08:06:00


MBABANE – Shocking.
In what may come as a shock to many, it has been proposed that individuals
qualifying to stand for presidential or general secretary position in the
Eswatini Football Coaches Association (EFCA) must have been a member for a
period exceeding 15 years. This is contained in the draft constitution that is
yet to be presented for the coaches’ membership to interrogate in a general
assembly. The proposed 15 years applies to members who have served in the EFCA,
which means independent candidates or those that have served less than the 15
years may not qualify to stand for the already mentioned positions (chairman,
secretary). Elections for the new executive committee usually take place after
every four years and this committee consists of seven members. These are
Chairman, Vice Chairman, General Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and
two members.
Member
The draft document also states that the Eswatini Football Association (EFA)
Technical Director, which in this case is Bhekisisa ‘Bizzah’ Mkhonta, will
be an ex-officio in the committee. It is further spelt out that the candidates
for elections into the executive committee must have been members of EFCA for a
continued period of at least four years. That person must have been inactive for
a period not exceeding two years, if not involved in an executive committee of
the association and must have had training in football coaching. “Additional
to qualify for post of chairman and general secretary a member must have the
highest coaching qualifications offered in the country and must also possess a
professional qualification. He must have served in the executive committee of
EFCA and must not have been previously found guilty of a criminal offence for
which he/she has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of six months or more
without an option of a fine,” the draft constitution further states.
It has also been proposed that employees of EFCA who may wish to stand for
elections of the executive committee, once nominated and having confirmed to
stand for such elections will be expected to resign football employment to be
eligible to stand for election. This must be done at least 30 days before the
date of the general assembly or annual general meeting in which elections are an
applicable item on the agenda.
“Candidatures must be sent to the General Secretary of the EFCA. The official
list of candidates must be passed to the members of the EFCA along with the
agenda for the general assembly at which the executive committee will be
elected. A member of the Executive Committee shall not at the same time be a
member of a judicial body of the EFCA.