MTN LEAGUE GAMES POSTPONED

MBABANE – No more festive football fiesta.

Following a meeting between the Eswatini Football Association, the Eswatini Referees Association and the National Referees Committee yesterday, the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) has resolved to postpone the MTN Premier League week 11 and National First Division round eight fixtures with immediate effect, to the last weekend of  this year.
As a result, all fixtures scheduled for today,  tomorrow and Friday  have been postponed. “The meeting identified some areas of deficiencies in match organisation and this postponement was necessitated by the need for the PLE and the relevant stakeholders to review their match organisation responsibilities to ensure improved performances during official matches,” read a statement from PLE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenneth Makhanya.

The meeting, among other things, sought a way forward on the continued attacks on referees by fans who were challenging their decisions. The latest incident was during last Saturday’s Mbabane derby, where match officials led by Thembinkosi Dlamini had to run for dear life. A Swallows fan was stabbed during the skirmish. Meanwhile, before the meeting of the football stakeholders yesterday, a referee had told this publication about a decision to stay out of the games.

Anonymity

The referee asked to comment on condition of anonymity ahead of the  meeting that happened yesterday. “We are scared to continue officiating in tomorrow’s (today’s) MTN Premier League games with the events that keep on happening. It’s high time we are taken seriously by everyone,” the referee said. The referee felt they kept risking their lives for peanuts. “We get peanuts and we are not taken seriously. Teams will continue paying huge fines, but next time one of us will get injured or possible be killed if this is not sorted,” he lamented. The official also mentioned that they wanted the supporters who have been doing this act to be banned for life and never return anywhere near a stadium. Games that were expected today, on the other hand, involved Denver Sundowns, Royal Leopard, Young Buffaloes and Manzini Sea Birds. The games were expected to continue until two days before Christmas Day.
(Additional information by Ashmond Nzima)

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