RELEGATION COURT CASE THREAT FOR PLE LEAGUES: NO VERDICT, NO PLAY– RANGERS

MBABANE – The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) may have to deal with a possible backlog of fixtures and confusion as the MTN National First Division (NFD) League 2022/23 season kicks off today.

This comes after Shiselweni outfit, Rangers, yesterday informed this publication that they had already written to the PLE, seeking that they postpone their season opening midweek fixture next Wednesday against Hlatikhulu Tycoons, pending the verdict of the High Court on their relegation saga. Rangers are not alone in the court battle as they challenge their relegation from the top flight to the NFD last season but with Milling Hot Spurs. The two teams filed an urgent application with the High Court last month seeking an order that the PLE reverse the decision to relegate them from the elite league to the second-tier of local football. They base the case on the fact that the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) released two sets of rules for the same tournament, the first which was used for match-day one was proving two teams will be relegated, the other came on match-day two and provided that four bottom placed teams in the log get relegated. There was an appeal by the PLE on behalf of its members, but the EFA took none of it and the former moved on.

Honour

However, it seems Rangers are not ready to honour their fixtures yet until the court matter, which has been getting postponed each time it had to take off until it is settled and the verdict is out. The league kick-off had initially been scheduled for last week. Their partners, Milling, would not comment but a source said it was because they were focussed on the fixture against Ezulwini United who are formerly known as Tinyosi, another of the four sides to be relegated. The initial kick-off was deferred after some deficiencies in the set of rules and regulations. Rangers Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Thembinkosi Hlandze affirmed the said letter to the PLE. “We have written a letter to PLE asking for the postponement of the games until the verdict is out. We don’t know how we are supposed to play without knowing the fate of our case,” Hlandze said.

Responded

PLE CEO Kenneth Makhanya said he had not received the letter at the time he was called after lunch and had not responded to a message sent to him on the matter just before 6pm yesterday. Should it happen that the verdict goes Rangers and Milling’s way and they must return to the top flight even after appeal, both the MTN Premier League and First Division League games will be impacted negatively as it could mean a change of rules with two more teams added to the elite league and two would have to be promoted to the second tier league.

2021/22 relegated teams

1. Ezulwini United, formerly Tinyosi
2. Malanti Chiefs
3. Milling Hot Spurs
4. Rangers

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