WANDERERS WANT PLE TRIO DETAINED

MBABANE – Yet another twist!

This is the ongoing relegation saga involving Manzini Wanderers, which took another dramatic twist, after the hub giants filed a Notice of Motion yesterday. The ‘Weslians’, through their legal representative SM Jele Attorneys, are still challenging the failure of the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) to include them in the 2024/25 MTN Premier League games as per the High Court judgment. This is despite that the PLE has appealed the matter.

The High Court through Judge Mumcy Dlamini, on October 19, 2024, ordered both the PLE and the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) to take necessary steps to normalise the situation, after the EFA Disciplinary Committee (DC) and the Appeals Board ruling on a protest they had lodged.The maroon and white hub giants on May 19, 2024, in an MTN Premier League relegation six-pointer against Denver Sundowns, lodged a protest over Jimoh Moses.

They alleged that the Sundowns captain had no valid work permit on that day. This protest was dismissed by both the EFA judicial bodies. This forced the Mlamuli ‘Mlaba’ Nkambule-captained side to seek the intervention of the High Court.Judge Dlamini, after hearing the submissions of the parties, ultimately ruled in favour of Wanderers. The court ordered the PLE to fixture Wanderers in the ongoing MTN Premier League campaign.

According to Sifiso ‘Charlie’ Jele from the SM Jele Attorneys after the PLE allegedly failed to execute the court order, Wanderers assigned them to file a Notice of Motion, which they seek that it should be heard as one of urgency.  Legal online sources define a notice of motion as a written application to the court. This document requests the court to issue a ruling or order on a legal matter. These motions are the first step a party must take before the court can weigh in on a legal matter. Their purpose is usually to resolve procedural issues, provide mediation or seek judicial direction in a case.

Wanderers, in the papers, alleged that the PLE chairman, acting chief executive officer (CEO) and chief operations officer (COO) are in contempt of court for willfully and intentionally not complying with the court order issued on October 19, 2024.They also want the court to grant the trio the opportunity to purge their contempt within three days of receipt of the application. “I humbly apply that the court orders the PLE chairman, CEO and COO be committed to gaol for a period of 30 days so they can respect the orders of the court,” Jele stated through the Notice of Motion.

He further submitted that the failure of the respondents to comply with the order is causing Wanderers great prejudice, as they are unable to sustain themselves through revenue generated from participating in the league. Nevertheless, Acting CEO Pat Vilakati, after the special ordinary meeting, held at Sigwaca House, yesterday, said the BoGs were updated on the latest developments regarding the relegation issue for Wanderers.

Vilakati explained that this matter could not be addressed during their August 10 Extraordinary Assembly, pending a court order.   “Our legal officer, Sibusiso Manda, presented the case, which has been to court and returned with judgments that the PLE has appealed. However, it was requested that the matter not be discussed as it is still pending in court. What we did today (yesterday) was to provide the clubs with a report on why Wanderers is not fixtured,” Vilakati said.

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