TEAMS SING EFA PRAISES, BUT...

EZULWINI – It’s a big relief for the 30 Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) teams.

The PLE has 16 elite teams and 14 in the first division, the country’s second tier. Each of these clubs was expected to spend E850 for each player to test for COVID-19 ahead of the suspended MTN Premier League resumption, after the two-week partial lockdown.

Already, clubs were worried and concerned as each would have to spend E25 500 for 30 players and officials. However, the EFA has come to the rescue for the second time. 

The local football mother body will spend about E765 000 on the 30 clubs. Each team will have only 30 tested by the EFA, which can be players and officials.

“As teams we are really grateful to EFA for the kind gesture. That’s what a parent does to his children. With this kind of approach from EFA, as a country, we are on the right track to professionalise our football. We were really in a dilemma on where we were going to outsource the money. Bravo EFA!” Manzini Wanderers PRO Mlungisi Ndzinisa said.

Ndzinisa’s neighbours, Moneni Pirates, through their PRO, Mhlonishwa Motsa, welcomed the funding.

“The COVID-19 testing is way too expensive for the teams and as Moneni Pirates we welcome the decision by the football mother body to shoulder the costs of such.

Solution

“However, we still feel that testing alone might not bring a lasting solution to this because there is still the issue of keeping the players in a safer environment, to ensure that they are not exposed to the virus when not in the field,” Motsa said.

He said as clubs there were still a lot of financial investments to make to ensure players were safe from the virus. Motsa applauded the EFA but added that they also believed that a clear strategy has to be in place in terms of the treatment of positive players and the handling of the whole team after a player has been tested positive.

“Overall, we are happy with the news and believe that we are taking the right steps forward. As a team we pledge our support and we will be ready to follow all procedures set by the EFA and PLE,” he said.

Tambuti’s Managing Director Rudolph Matsenjwa said this was good news and they were grateful.

“If EFA is going to help, yes it’s a relief we can be grateful for,” he said.

First Division side, Mbabane Citizens’ Chairman Mandla Simelane said it was okay to test and have the EFA pay but his main worry was what happens after testing.

Training

“The players still go to different places daily and return to training which for me, is something we need to address,” Simelane said.

Elite rookies Tinyosi FC’s PRO Thobile Dlamini immediately sounded excited. “We are so happy because the costs are too high,” she said. She added that it was also a good gesture because clubs did not have sponsors to assist with finances but it took the directors running teams from their pockets. 

Currently, teams are not making any revenue from the league games as they play in empty stadiums with fans banned due to COVID-19.

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