Times Of Swaziland: YESUKA ESHOWINI FOR SUPPORTERS AND TEAMS ... NO VIOLENCE,  SECURITY CAMERAS  AT TRADE  FAIR CUP

YESUKA ESHOWINI FOR SUPPORTERS AND TEAMS ... NO VIOLENCE,  SECURITY CAMERAS  AT
TRADE  FAIR CUP
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Mengameli Mabuza on 02/09/2023 08:10:00


MBABANE – Misbehave at your own risk.
Security will be for once strengthened with security cameras at Mavuso Sports
Centre, which has been a playground for violence during elite soccer matches,
particularly last season. The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) has taken swift
action towards cutting down incidents of violence by fans and teams’ officials
with referees the main victims of such.
“We’ve installed security cameras at the stadium and the police have assured
us they would certainly make use of the footage. If they have to make an arrest
from home then they would. That’s what they have promised us since they will
review the footage to catch any culprit. Before some fans and officials would
escape with criminal acts in stadiums but not anymore, at least not at
Mavuso,” an impeccable source revealed.
The source said all clubs were expected to alert their supporters that violent
misconduct and any other that is disruptive on the day will be a risk to arrest.
Suffered
“It’s long overdue. As clubs we’ve suffered a lot in the hands of fans and
supporters, who come here just to be a nuisance. If it helps the spectators
learn a thing or two about conduct or behaviour during football matches in the
top flight, then we’re all for it,” a big team official said of the latest
development. He commended the PLE for this step as much as it was for the Trade
Fair Cup at the moment but they were pleased about it.
“Its high time teams stop paying fines for supporters who just come to the
games to cause violence. The security cameras are a step in the right direction
to dealing with football violence in our games and we hope the police can arrest
these hooligans,” another team official said.
All 14 elite clubs were all called to the Mavuso Sports Centre on Thursday
afternoon, whereby they were briefed by the PLE about the tightened security
measures and other logistics pertaining to the smooth progression of the
knockout tournament that makes a return after over a decade since it was last
played and won by Mbabane Swallows. “Any form of violence, damages or
misbehaving shall be captured. Police have promised to fetch culprits at home if
they have been caught on camera doing things that would be classified as
criminal acts,” a PLE official also confided.
Developments
PLE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenneth Makhanya also confirmed the latest
developments yesterday. “We’ll fetch you from home if we must, it’s
time,” he said. He said clubs were all aware of the latest developments and so
their supporters, who would come to the stadium as of Sunday afternoon when the
games begin.  It is E60 per fan tomorrow and Monday as its triple headers then
it will be E50 per fan until the finals on September 10 as it will then be
double header fixtures. One other incident that can land you in trouble with the
police is vandalism to property and teams will take the costs for such damage
while the perpetrator has a dance with the long arm of the law.