LIFELINE FOR REGIONAL TEAMS

MBABANE – Relief. This word best describes how the over 500 regional teams and at least 12 women football teams must be feeling right now. 

They have been given a lifeline by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) after missing this past Friday’s registration deadline. EFA, which had sent out memos to all its affiliates to have their clubs registered at all levels of the game about a fortnight ago, had insisted that the registration was universal worldwide and if missed, it’s missed.

However, the EFA yesterday sent out a press release on the matter that brings nothing but relief to the affected teams around the country. 

despite

The clubs have been given a two-week lifeline to put their houses in order and have players registered despite the continued football ban at amateur level. 

Government has so far allowed the return of only organised football at the top level, meaning only the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) and national teams can play football in the country at the moment. Sports in the country are currently suspended for 14 days.

The extension means the registration deadline will now be on January 29, two weeks from now. 

It was made clear by the EFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frederick Mngomezulu, that the extension was exclusively for the regional and women football teams. For PLE teams, it closed on the Friday at 5pm as had been scheduled. 

banned

The latest is also in response to the clubs’ outcry that they had thought because football was banned at their level, they would register once free to play while the COVID-19 partial lockdown did not help matters as offices had to close.

Mngomezulu said this exclusive extension was necessitated by the current restrictions pronounced to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as clubs of the above mentioned leagues to this day, are still required to physically travel to their registration offices. 

They do not as yet use the electronic registration under the FIFA Connect platform.

 “All football clubs and the membership of the above outlined leagues are therefore expected to have concluded their registration business by the new stipulated deadline. They are further encouraged to discharge their respective registration and associated business as early as possible,” said Mngomezulu.

He further warned that clubs that failed to register within the given period would suffer dire consequences as they would be locked out for the rest of the season and there will be no other extraordinary consideration beyond this extended period.  

precedence

The correspondence further stated that the extension did not set any form of precedence for the future as all football clubs and stakeholders were expected to conform to stipulated timelines in the discharge of their business. 

Women Football Association (WFA) Secretary General Aaron ‘Katalala’ Mavimbela said their members had been notified of the extension.

“The teams have been informed of the prolonged registration. This is time to do add-ons even though we are waiting for the unknown. We may probably start in March but when that comes, let us all be ready,” said Mavimbela.

Hhohho Regional Football Association (HRFA) Secretary Nigel Shongwe acknowledged the EFA’s decision to extend the window period, adding that this would allow his office time to welcome the Super League teams and players, while strategising on the registration of the regional teams.

extension

“We expected that the Super League would return before the regional leagues so this extension will help us to first complete their registration then we will strategise on how to register the regions,” he said.

Shongwe sternly warned against the hosting of informal football games but advised that people continue to adhere to the rules and regulations guarding against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He said that, with the help of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), the law would surely take its course against those that disregard the rules.

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