Times Of Swaziland: SIHLANGU COACH FRAMED!

SIHLANGU COACH FRAMED!
================================================================================
Mengameli Mabuza on 31/03/2023 08:30:00


MBABANE – The EFA has reacted with shock to the fake Facebook page depicting
Coach Dominic Kunene.
The trending account, which impersonates Kunene, surfaced shortly after Sihlangu
went down 0-1 to Cape Verde on Tuesday afternoon at Mbombela Stadium in
Nelspruit. A screenshot of the account with Kunene’s photo as a profile
picture was later circulated on social media platforms, mainly Facebook, where
the perpetrator using the name of the former Young Buffaloes coach talks about
Mbabane Swallows free-scoring attacking midfielder Felix Badenhorst. One of the
posts on the fake account suggests that the MTN Premier League leading
goalscorer was not cooperative, which led to him not being selected for the
TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers.
False
“The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) has noted a false Facebook account
purported to be owned by the Senior Men’s National Team head coach, Mr.
Dominic Kunene. This account does not belong to the head coach of the national
team and, therefore, he is not associated with the content that is published in
that account, nor does he have any or links to it. As a matter of fact, the
national team head coach does not even have a Facebook account. In as far as the
selection of the national team players is concerned, this is the responsibility
of the technical team of the national team and all selected players become part
of the national team as per the player analysis and selection of this national
team structure.
“ The EFA would like to take this opportunity to apologise to all stakeholders
who might have been adversely affected by the content linked to that false
Facebook account that only seeks to tarnish the best efforts of the national
team coach. As per the head coach’s comment, when he assumed his position, the
national team selection is open to every player who qualifies to play for any
national team, as per the FIFA regulations on the eligibility of playing
national team football; the EFA believes that the head coach is implementing
that to the best of his capabilities and in a professional manner,” reads the
statement from EFA in part.
The unknown culprit who created the fake account of the Sihlangu coach has
violated the country’s Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act, 2022. Article 16
states that,  “A person who intentionally and without lawful excuse or
justification or in excess of a lawful excuse or justification, by using a
computer system in any stage of the offence intentionally transfers, acquires,
possesses or uses a means of identification of another person with the intention
to commit, or to aid or abet or in connection with any unlawful activity that,
commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding E200 000
or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both.”
Fake
Experts say while most people know that there are fake Facebook accounts and
profiles, but according to Facebook the problem is much bigger than that. It is
well known that fraudsters use fake Facebook accounts to connect with users and
their friends in order to obtain personal information for the purpose of
identity theft. Fake account holders also contact anyone who has accepted their
friend request to try and extort money. Meanwhile, Eswatini National Football
Supporters Association (ENFSA) Chairman Menzi ‘Madlakadla’  Dladla has
expressed his disappointment about the fake account.
“As an association, we are really disappointed by this behaviour, which has
been done by one of our own, degrading our national team coach we respect and
love. We really hope that the individual who is doing this will stop,” he
said.