Times Of Swaziland: IN URGENT COURT APPLICATION: ‘WESLIANS’ WANT PIRATES  POINTS NULLIFIED

IN URGENT COURT APPLICATION: ‘WESLIANS’ WANT PIRATES  POINTS NULLIFIED
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Machawe Fakudze on 25/09/2024 10:53:00


MBABANE - The marathon relegation battle rages on!
Manzini Wanderers, through their legal representatives from SM Jele Attorneys,
have since filed an urgent application at the High Court of Eswatini, seeking an
order nullifying all games played by Moneni Pirates. This is one of the prayers
in the case where they have taken the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) to court.
They further seek upcoming Pirates games to be frozen, pending the finalisation
of their matter. Pirates have also been cited as respondents in the matter.
The genesis of the matter began when Wanderers lodged a protest over Sundowns
skipper, Jimoh Moses, in their MTN Premier League relegation six-pointer, which
was played at the Somhlolo National Stadium, in May. The game finished 4-2 in
favour of Ikappa Kappa. Both teams were hauled before the Eswatini Football
Association (EFA) Disciplinary Committee (DC), which ruled in favour of
Sundowns.
The ruling by the Thulani Sibandze-chaired committee did not sit well with
Wanderers and they took it to the EFA’s Appeals Board, which also dismissed
the case.Yesterday, Wanderers, throuh Charlie ‘Minga’ Jele filed an urgent
application at the High Court, interdicting and restraining the PLE from
continuing with Moneni Pirates’ games in the Premier Division, pending the
finalisation of the main matter. The main matter is the protest Wanderers lodged
over Sundowns skipper Moses.
Contempt
The maroon and white hub giants also want the court to declare the PLE to be in
contempt of court for not complying with the court order dated August 9, 2024.
This order states that the applicant (Wanderers) should not be relegated,
pending the finalisation of the review application. “We urge that the games
played by the 3rd Respondent (Moneni Pirates) thus far be declared nullity,”
reads part of the court papers. Meanwhile, the ‘Sea Robbers’ of Moneni
newly-appointed Public Relations Officer (PRO), Meluleki ‘Sluga’ Simelane,
confirmed that they were served with the papers, but they would hand over them
to their lawyers for now.
The PLE, Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pat Vilakati, on the other hand,
briefly confirmed receiving the court papers. It is worth mentioning that
Sundowns’ Moses’ legal representatives recently filed an application seeking
that Judge Bonginkhosi Magagula recuses himself from the matter, alleging that
he has ties with one of Wanderers’ officials. The verdict of Magagula’s
recusal will be heard today at the High Court.  Meanwhile, Pirates have played
two games so far and recorded draws. As per the latest fixture programme, they
are to face rookies Sidwashini United at Mkhuzweni Technical Centre, on
Saturday.