EFA DISBURSES E540 000 2ND BATCH TO PLE

MBABANE – Every cloud has a silver lining!

This adage proves true for local teams in the MTN Premier League and National First Division after the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) released the second batch of E540 000.

Money

The money has been given to the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) to assist teams in both the first and second-tier divisions in dealing with COVID-19 effects.

It is part of the money which the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) approved last year to assist struggling football leagues.

received

The first batch of E540 000 was received by the PLE from EFA to give to teams in December last year, something which was confirmed by Chief Operations Officer (COO) Pat Vilakati last month.

“The second batch of the money was released early in February and given to the PLE to give to teams. Other affiliates of the EFA also benefitted as there is something that they were given,” confided a highly-placed source at the EFA.

It turned out as this publication reported that the EFA will soon release the second batch of E540 000.

“A communiqué was sent to confirm the release of the funds and the association will continue helping affiliates,” confided the source.

EFA Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe was also reached and said as a policy of the organisation, they always had one comment of financial related matters. 

“Such issues are discussed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) when a financial report is delivered to the congress. Try and contact the PLE because this is a matter that also touches on them,” he said.

Vilakati could not be immediately reached when sought for comment. A WhatsApp message had been sent to him when this article was compiled.

segmented

Meanwhile, the money was said to have been segmented into two, which according to sources included that of assisting teams in dealing with COVID-19 effects and compensation for gate takings as games are played without fans.

“As for compensating teams for gate takings, the money is given as pay-as-you-play; it is different from the one which was given to assist teams in dealing with COVID-19 effects,” explained a source.

It had been reliably gathered that the EFA released the first batch in mid-December last year and the second batch early in February.

The funds, that had strict conditions attached, were pledged by FIFA last year. The money was to be released in two batches of US$500 000 for the 2020 calendar year and for the 2021 calendar year.

In June last year, the world football mother body approved a US$1.5 billion relief fund. Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, said the relief fund had been ‘unanimously approved’ by the members of its council and insisted there would be ‘strict controls’ on how the money is spent.

All 211-member associations were entitled to a ‘basic solidarity grant’ of US$1 million (about E16.5 million) each as well as US$500 000 which must be invested in women’s football.

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