‘SIKHALI’ PROTEST DISMISSED BY EFA DC

MBABANE – It is frivolous and vexatious.

That was the line used by Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Disciplinary Committee (DC) as he read Article 10 (8) of the MTN Premier League Rules in giving their judgement in the protest case against Mbabane Highlanders and senior national team striker Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa last night at Sigwaca House. Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows were the protesting team after their first round MTN Premier League clash with Highlanders this month which ended 5-0 in favour of the later. However, it turned out that Black Swallows were not prepared for the case as they came without evidence yet the rules were clear that by the time of the DC hearing, they should have already submitted it to the PLE within 48 hours before last night.

Lawyer Vusi Tfomo represented Black Swallows as opposed to Zakhele Dlamini of TZD Sports who had earlier been cited for the case. Tfomo informed the DC that they came to request for the DC to issue an order directing the EFA to release documents of Ndzinisa’s registration and further request their South African counterparts, SAFA, to furnish them with the verdict between TS Sporting and Mbombela United. “Our application is based on a letter by the EFA that they cannot furnish us with evidence citing confidentiality clauses but even then, they wrote in the letter that we can request an order from the DC to assist us with getting the documents we want relating to Sikhali’s registration,’ he said.

Prepared

However, Highlanders lawyer, Bongani ‘Bhanyaza’ Mdluli was too prepared for the case and brought written submissions that went on to cite the relevant articles from the MTN League Rules and Regulations as well as from FIFA statutes on the transfer of players, the TMS (Transfer Matching System) and FIFA Connect as well as sanctions to disciplinary hearings of more than four matches and more than four months. FIFA stands for Federation of International Football Associations. Mdluli managed to argue his case and oppose the application of Black Swallows successfully as it was clear that Tfomo had not prepared for the hearing but expected to get an application to assist him get evidence. However, the DC found that Tfomo had no basis or strength to bring the protest before the DC without covering himself with evidence as required by the protest rules.
The DC Chairman ruled that Black Swallows could have gotten evidence by themselves as the judgment they seek from SAFA was accessible through various platforms, they could get evidence ready before DC as per Article 10 (6) requires it within 48 hours before the hearing which inclined them to agree with Mdluli.

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