‘SAVIOLA’ DOUBT FOR TOGO CLASH

MBABANE – Young Buffaloes attacking midfielder Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze is doubtful for the game against Togo next Sunday.

It was extensively reported yesterday that the Sihlangu marksman appeared in court facing charges of having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old. The Dominic Kunene-led Sihlangu team are currently preparing at the Lobamba Technical Centre for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 Qualifiers match against Togo on June 18.
According to a source within the Sihlangu camp, the Young Buffaloes player was not going to be part of the squad travelling to Mbombela Stadium in South Africa, after he was charged with rape, for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old.

The Amathole Ezinyathi player is alleged to have committed the offence on January 7, 2023 at Kwaluseni in the Manzini Region. The charge sheet states that ‘Saviola’, as he is fondly known to the thousands of soccer lovers, allegedly had sex with the minor without her consent. The offence is said to be accompanied by aggravating circumstances, as per Section 185 bis of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 67/1938 (CP&E) in that Gamedze allegedly exposed the complainant to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Another aggravating factor, according to the charge sheet, is that at the time the offence was committed, the complainant was incapable of consenting to any sexual act. The accused was arrested by Matsapha police on Monday. He was charged for allegedly contravening Section 3 (1) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act 15/2018.

Suspended

“The player is innocent until proven guilty, but for everyone’s sake the player will be temporarily suspended for all national team matches until the case against him is proven to be untrue. He is an important player for the national team but the association also has to protect the player from the public,” said the source. According to the source within Sihlangu, who did not want his identity to be revealed, the player was not part of the players in training yesterday in preparations for the game against Togo. Meanwhile, Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe, when interviewed yesterday evening, said it was difficult to talk about the case because it was already in court. “Saviola is not part of camp,” he said briefly.

In most cases, suspects out on bail usually surrender their passports to ensure they remain in the country. However, an application to have it back for essential trips can still be made. Allegations of rape are not new in the football fraternity, with Manchester United footballer Mason Greenwood another player who was charged with attempted rape, engaging in controlling behaviour and assault.

Sponsorship

The forward was arrested in January 22, 2022 following allegations that emerged in images and videos posted online. The 21-year-old has not played or trained with Manchester United since his arrest. Nike also ended its sponsorship deal with him and Electronic Arts removed him from active squads on its Fifa 22 game. In February 2023 charges of attempted rape and assault against the footballer were later dropped due to the withdrawal of key witnesses, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced. A charge of controlling and coercive behaviour was also dropped, according to the CPS. Another player who was facing allegation of rape recently is PSG defender Achraf Hakimi who was called into the Morocco squad and played in the friendly games against Brazil and Peru. Hakimi was given preliminary charges of rape on March 3, by prosecutors in the suburb of Nanterre. A 24-year-old woman said she was raped by Hakimi at his home, though his lawyer said it is part of a racketeering attempt.

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