Times Of Swaziland: AS PLE FILES APPEAL, IT’S: SHORT-LIVED JOY  FOR ‘WESLIANS’

AS PLE FILES APPEAL, IT’S: SHORT-LIVED JOY  FOR ‘WESLIANS’
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Machawe Fakudze on 23/10/2024 07:53:00


MBABANE – Will it end?
This is a question many football lovers are asking themselves in the marathon
relegation battle between Manzini Wanderers and rivals, Denver Sundowns, as the
Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) filed a Notice of Appeal yesterday. It was
reliably gathered that the PLE, through their legal representative Meluleki
Ndlangamandla, after learning about the outcome of the case, filed an appeal at
the High Court.
It is worth mentioning that the six-month old protest matter over Sundowns’
skipper Jimoh Moses was eventually concluded by Judge Mumcy Dlamini, on Saturday
midnight. Judge Dlamini, after hearing the submission of all the parties
involved, this past Friday, reserved her judgment only to pass it the following
day. The court ordered the PLE to fixture Wanderers in the ongoing MTN Premier
League season. The PLE and Eswatini Football Association (EFA) were also ordered
to take the necessary steps to normalise the situation.
In the appeal, the PLE feels the court erred in law and in fact by issuing an
order not prayed for by any of the parties.
Misdirected
The papers, also state that the court quo erred in law and misdirected itself in
issuing the order. In the appeal, the PLE felt there was a judicial overreach in
the ruling. Meanwhile, a source also revealed that Sundowns, through their legal
representatives, also filed their own appeal. The general rule in a civil matter
is that an appeal automatically stays execution or enforcement of a judgment. A
stay typically affects the entire judgment, including those parts that are not
challenged on appeal. Notably, the PLE will also an extraordinary meeting, this
coming Friday, where the Wanderers court ruling is part of the agenda. It will
be held at Sigwaca House in Mbabane, starting at 2:30pm.
Meanwhile, the PLE through the office of the Acting Chief Executive Officer
(CEO), Pat Vilakati, released this weekend’s fixtures, which are headlined by
the mouth-watering match between log leaders Mbabane Swallows and Moneni Pirates
penned for Mayaluka Stadium. The maroon and white hub giants are not in the
fixture. Selected teams will be in action, this weekend, as Sihlangu will leave
for Botswana to face Zimbabwe in an African Nations Championship (CHAN)
qualifying match. The game will be played on Sunday.