FIGHT FOR PLE HOT SEAT TURNS INTO: FOUR-HORSE RACE

MBABANE – With just four days to go to the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) executive committee (Exco) elections, the race for the chairman position has narrowed.

One candidate has stepped out, becoming the second to withdraw from Saturday’s election. Former Manzini Wanderers Director Sandile ‘Chief’ Dlamini formally withdrew his name from the list of additional member candidates on July 31. The latest reports reveal that another candidate Executive Member Victor Rodrigues, who was absent during Saturday’s campaigns, has pulled out from the race for the chairmanship.The campaigns were held at Sigwaca House by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Ethics Committee led by Magistrate Siphosini Dlamini, two days ago.

Campaigning

Incumbent Chairman Mark Carmichael and Rodrigues were absent during the campaigning. “I have withdrawn from the chairman position for personal reasons, but I’m still contesting the vice chairman position. It’s not about being chairman but about football. “What matters are the contributions in the executive because the work of the executive is always a collective effort,” Rodrigues said when questioned about his absence on Saturday. Rodrigues explained that he had family commitments, but would have attended the campaigns if it were not for those obligations. He said he had, however, reported that he would be held up.

Experience

The Malanti Chiefs boss with over a decade of experience in football, emphasised that the PLE organisation’s interests superseded individual ambitions, regardless of the position held.
“Look, I have served the organisation and worked with its late Chairman Victor Gamedze. Every success and failure story belongs to the whole executive. No one can claim it solely because it’s a collective struggle,” he said. Rodrigues’ withdrawal leaves four candidates in the race to lead the organisation for the next four years. In no particular order, these are Mark Carmichael, Sibusiso ‘Scorpion’ Nxumalo, Polycarp Dlamini and Charles Matsebula.  Meanwhile, the Ethics Committee Chairman magistrate was blank on Rodrigues’ withdrawal.
He said nothing had reached him pertaining to this latest development, even on Saturday during the campaigns. Dlamini was called yesterday.

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