Times Of Swaziland: RELEGATION COURT CASE THREAT FOR PLE LEAGUES: NO VERDICT,  NO PLAY– RANGERS

RELEGATION COURT CASE THREAT FOR PLE LEAGUES: NO VERDICT,  NO PLAY– RANGERS
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Nimrod Hlophe on 05/11/2022 07:12:00


MBABANE – The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) may have to deal with a
possible backlog of fixtures and confusion as the MTN National First Division
(NFD) League 2022/23 season kicks off today.
This comes after Shiselweni outfit, Rangers, yesterday informed this publication
that they had already written to the PLE, seeking that they postpone their
season opening midweek fixture next Wednesday against Hlatikhulu Tycoons,
pending the verdict of the High Court on their relegation saga. Rangers are not
alone in the court battle as they challenge their relegation from the top flight
to the NFD last season but with Milling Hot Spurs. The two teams filed an urgent
application with the High Court last month seeking an order that the PLE reverse
the decision to relegate them from the elite league to the second-tier of local
football. They base the case on the fact that the Eswatini Football Association
(EFA) released two sets of rules for the same tournament, the first which was
used for match-day one was proving two teams will be relegated, the other came
on match-day two and provided that four bottom placed teams in the log get
relegated. There was an appeal by the PLE on behalf of its members, but the EFA
took none of it and the former moved on.
Honour
However, it seems Rangers are not ready to honour their fixtures yet until the
court matter, which has been getting postponed each time it had to take off
until it is settled and the verdict is out. The league kick-off had initially
been scheduled for last week. Their partners, Milling, would not comment but a
source said it was because they were focussed on the fixture against Ezulwini
United who are formerly known as Tinyosi, another of the four sides to be
relegated. The initial kick-off was deferred after some deficiencies in the set
of rules and regulations. Rangers Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Thembinkosi
Hlandze affirmed the said letter to the PLE. “We have written a letter to PLE
asking for the postponement of the games until the verdict is out. We don’t
know how we are supposed to play without knowing the fate of our case,”
Hlandze said.
Responded
PLE CEO Kenneth Makhanya said he had not received the letter at the time he was
called after lunch and had not responded to a message sent to him on the matter
just before 6pm yesterday. Should it happen that the verdict goes Rangers and
Milling’s way and they must return to the top flight even after appeal, both
the MTN Premier League and First Division League games will be impacted
negatively as it could mean a change of rules with two more teams added to the
elite league and two would have to be promoted to the second tier league.
2021/22 relegated teams
1. Ezulwini United, formerly Tinyosi
2. Malanti Chiefs
3. Milling Hot Spurs
4. Rangers