‘BULL’, ‘BIRDS’ LEAD IN PLE’S OVER E250 000 INCOME

MBABANE – The Premier of League of Eswatini (PLE) has accumulated a sum of E260 000 from teams through charges so far in the current season.

Like in the previous season, capital city giants Mbabane Highlanders and Swallows were the naughtiest teams. Swallows were last season the highest fined team at the end of the season as they accumulated E120 000 fines expenditure. They were followed by their traditional rivals Highlanders, who are currently leading the charges chart. They have amassed E210 000 in fines which is also E13 000 bigger than the overall fine they amassed in the 2021/2022 season. In total, PLE raked in E542 000 in summary fines and fines from both the MTN Premier League and the MTN National First Division league in the past season. As with the season still going, the total fines amount to E235 000 made from four teams. Besides the two country’s heavyweights are Tambuti and National First Division (NFD) Milling Hot Spurs.

This money was fined the teams after they were hauled before the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Disciplinary Committee (DC) for various incidents ranging from not honouring fixtures, but most fundamental, a bigger chunk is for causing mayhems or commotions during matches under the MTN Premier League banner. Highlanders have been fined E135 000 in total as they remain the naughtiest team. The black and white outfit have appeared twice before the Thulani Sibandze-chaired committee, where they have been fined E70 000 and E40 000, respectively in each appearance for different incidents. The Solomon ‘Solly’ Luvhengo-coached side first appeared before the DC when they caused mayhem in their game against Manzini Sea Birds at Mavuso Sports Centre. A portion of their supporters invaded the pitch in pursuit of seasoned referee Mbongeni Shongwe. The supporters allegedly attacked Shongwe for allowing a ‘hand of god’ goal by Sandumenzi Zwane. For this incident they were fined E70 000.

Fine

In the second case, they were slapped with E40 000 fine, after some commotion that erupted after a goalless draw against Young Buffaloes.  Inkunz’emnyama were also hauled before the same DC for yet another commotion almost similar to the first one, this time around they did it during the derby match against Swallows, when the supporters attacked referee Thembinkosi Dlamini for ruling out a goal by Philani Mkhonto deep into regulation time. They were also charged E70 000. The ‘Bull’ appeared before the DC for the offence they committed of getting into the Mayaluka Stadium pitch on their bus and were fined E25 000, with Manager Simiso ‘Space’ Jele suspended for two games. This brings the total of money the side has contributed to the PLE to E135 000 so far in the season.

Meanwhile, their Swallows who were the heavily fined team last season have so far been fined E70 000. This was in relation to some violence that erupted after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to the traditional rivals Highlanders. Referees were attacked and beaten on accusations of poor refeering on the day. Furthermore, both teams were also ordered to play some of their home games in an empty stadium. Highlanders played a single match while Swallows played two behind closed doors. In addition, Lubombo-based side, Tambuti, has contributed E40 000 after they were fined by the DC for failure to honour their MTN Premier League replay game against rookies Nsingizini Hotspurs.

Meanwhile, Milling Hot Spurs are the only NFD outfit that have accumulated a fine. They have so far been slapped with E15 000 fine in a case related to the abandonment of their game against Ubombo Flyers. The game was abandoned almost 10 minutes before regular time with Hot Spurs alleging that their defender was severely injured, yet there was no ambulance available to transport him to hospital. It is worth mentioning that in the 2021/22 season the PLE raked in over E500 000 in fines from both divisions, with Swallows being most naughtiest team as it was fined a total of E120 000. However, PLE Football Manager Pat Vilakati was quoted on national radio, the Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS 1) Sports Show saying as an organisation they were not even budgeting from the fines received from the teams.

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