Times Of Swaziland: HIGHLANDERS’ NYAWO IN  REGISTRATION HEADACHE

HIGHLANDERS’ NYAWO IN  REGISTRATION HEADACHE
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Mengameli Mabuza on 24/12/2024 10:06:00


MBABANE – Mbabane Highlanders’ goalkeeper, Qiniso ‘Kati’ Nyawo, is
ensnared in a complex registration dilemma, as the January transfer window
looms.
Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Highlanders had parted ways with Nyawo
after a mere two months with the club. The former Young Buffaloes player had
signed with the capital city giants in anticipation of the 2024/25 MTN Premier
League season, but exited without making a single official appearance.
Having joined Mbabane Highlanders in July, Nyawo, who was awarded the Premier
League of Eswatini (PLE) 2023 Trade Fair Cup Goalkeeper of the Tournament,
reportedly left due to disagreements over certain terms of his contract. Sources
close to the club suggest that he was offered a one-year deal, but has since
been released and instructed to collect his clearance, enabling him to join a
team of his choice.
In a brief interview, Nyawo confirmed his departure from Highlanders, stating:
“I have decided to leave Mbabane Highlanders, and I was told to collect my
clearance at any time.” When queried about his next move during the January
registration period, he mentioned he had yet to make a decision, but would focus
on maintaining his fitness in the meantime.
However, International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) regulations
stipulate that a player can register with a maximum of three clubs within the
same season, although they may only participate in official matches for two of
those clubs. This rule, outlined in FIFA’s Player Transfer Regulations,
prohibits a player from officially playing for multiple clubs simultaneously
within the same season. As Nyawo has already registered with Buffaloes and
subsequently with Highlanders, he is consequently barred from playing for any
other club in the 2023/2024 MTN Premier League season.
Integrity
An anonymous FIFA-licensed player agent remarked: “FIFA’s registration rules
are essential for ensuring fair play and maintaining the integrity of the game.
“All players must adhere to these regulations, as violations can lead to
severe consequences.” The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) has announced
that the second registration window for the current MTN Premier League season
will open on Monday, January 16, 2023.
Meanwhile, one notable case is that of Brahima Konaté, who encountered
challenges related to FIFA’s transfer regulations during his career. After
moving from Toulouse to RB Leipzig in 2019 and being loaned to another club, he
faced complications with registration due to his involvement with multiple clubs
within the same season. As a potential resolution to Nyawo’s registration
quandary, it may be prudent for him to consider returning to Mbabane Highlanders
or, in a worst-case scenario, sit out the second round of the season without a
team.
This approach would allow the goalkeeper to avoid any potential breaches of
FIFA’s registration regulations, as he remains registered with the club until
the season’s conclusion. Efforts to reach the Mbabane Highlanders goalkeeper
for comment at the time of compiling this report were unsuccessful.