Times Of Swaziland: ‘SAVIOLA’ DOUBT FOR TOGO CLASH

‘SAVIOLA’ DOUBT FOR TOGO CLASH
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Mengameli Mabuza on 08/06/2023 13:07:00


MBABANE – Young Buffaloes attacking midfielder Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze
is doubtful for the game against Togo next Sunday.
It was extensively reported yesterday that the Sihlangu marksman appeared in
court facing charges of having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old. The
Dominic Kunene-led Sihlangu team are currently preparing at the Lobamba
Technical Centre for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations
(AFCON) 2023 Qualifiers match against Togo on June 18.
According to a source within the Sihlangu camp, the Young Buffaloes player was
not going to be part of the squad travelling to Mbombela Stadium in South
Africa, after he was charged with rape, for allegedly having sexual intercourse
with a 14-year-old.
The Amathole Ezinyathi player is alleged to have committed the offence on
January 7, 2023 at Kwaluseni in the Manzini Region. The charge sheet states that
‘Saviola’, as he is fondly known to the thousands of soccer lovers,
allegedly had sex with the minor without her consent. The offence is said to be
accompanied by aggravating circumstances, as per Section 185 bis of the Criminal
Procedure and Evidence Act 67/1938 (CP&E) in that Gamedze allegedly exposed the
complainant to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Another aggravating
factor, according to the charge sheet, is that at the time the offence was
committed, the complainant was incapable of consenting to any sexual act. The
accused was arrested by Matsapha police on Monday. He was charged for allegedly
contravening Section 3 (1) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV)
Act 15/2018.
Suspended
“The player is innocent until proven guilty, but for everyone’s sake the
player will be temporarily suspended for all national team matches until the
case against him is proven to be untrue. He is an important player for the
national team but the association also has to protect the player from the
public,” said the source. According to the source within Sihlangu, who did not
want his identity to be revealed, the player was not part of the players in
training yesterday in preparations for the game against Togo. Meanwhile,
Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi
Radebe, when interviewed yesterday evening, said it was difficult to talk about
the case because it was already in court. “Saviola is not part of camp,” he
said briefly.
In most cases, suspects out on bail usually surrender their passports to ensure
they remain in the country. However, an application to have it back for
essential trips can still be made. Allegations of rape are not new in the
football fraternity, with Manchester United footballer Mason Greenwood another
player who was charged with attempted rape, engaging in controlling behaviour
and assault.
Sponsorship
The forward was arrested in January 22, 2022 following allegations that emerged
in images and videos posted online. The 21-year-old has not played or trained
with Manchester United since his arrest. Nike also ended its sponsorship deal
with him and Electronic Arts removed him from active squads on its Fifa 22 game.
In February 2023 charges of attempted rape and assault against the footballer
were later dropped due to the withdrawal of key witnesses, the Crown Prosecution
Service (CPS) announced. A charge of controlling and coercive behaviour was also
dropped, according to the CPS. Another player who was facing allegation of rape
recently is PSG defender Achraf Hakimi who was called into the Morocco squad and
played in the friendly games against Brazil and Peru. Hakimi was given
preliminary charges of rape on March 3, by prosecutors in the suburb of
Nanterre. A 24-year-old woman said she was raped by Hakimi at his home, though
his lawyer said it is part of a racketeering attempt.