Times Of Swaziland: PLE REQUESTS FOR 500 VACCINATED FANS IN STADIUMS

PLE REQUESTS FOR 500 VACCINATED FANS IN STADIUMS
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BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO on 26/10/2021 08:48:00


MBABANE – The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) has requested government to at
least allow 500 vaccinated fans from each team to return to stadiums.
The Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs announced that this year’s
MTN Premier League and the MTN National First Division would kick-off in empty
stadiums again due to the COVID-19 regulations. The elite league is due to
kick-off on Saturday with the first division a week later.
proposal
A source close to the matter confirmed yesterday that this was the proposal made
by the PLE through the Eswatini Football Association (EFA). The PLE and EFA have
been on campaign to encourage the nation to vaccinate against the COVID-19
pandemic to stand a chance of returning to stadiums. Under the campaign that has
been taken to several towns including Manzini, Nhlangano, Buhleni and Pigg’s
Peak, over 3 000 people vaccinated. The source said the PLE is pleading that at
least each team be allowed a maximum of 500 vaccinated fans into the playing
venues. This means in each venue about 1 000 people will be eligible to watch.
South Africa has already started allowing few vaccinated supporters to the
stadiums with 2 000 fans watching the 2022 World Cup qualifier between Bafana
Bafana and Ethiopia. Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Communication
Officer Sibongiseni Zondi said while there are ongoing talks, nothing has
changed that the MTN Premier League and the MTN National First Division will
start without fans even this season.
“The ministry has not received any particular proposal to that effect, but we
continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders to find ways to keep the sport
industry alive and developing. For now, however, Adjusted Level 1 measures as
announced by the prime minister (PM) remain in effect until government announces
otherwise. We continue to encourage all within the sporting industry to abide by
the measures and to get vaccinated in order to protect themselves and their
loved ones,” he said.
advocating
EFA Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe said they were advocating
for the nation to vaccinate and he could not comment on the proposal as he was
not aware of any. “We are on a mission to encourage the nation and football
fans to vaccinate to stand a chance of going back to stadiums. The government
made it clear on how fans can return to stadiums and we are working on that,”
he said. The vaccination campaign has been halted by the prevailing political
unrest around the country and it was initially set to be held in Siteki in the
Lubombo region last Saturday, but was cancelled a day before.