PLE IN TIGHT CORNER AS … RELEGATION DISPUTE FREEZES ‘CARROT’ WINNERS CROWNING

MBABANE – Will the PLE award the first-round winners?

This is the question many are asking, following the ongoing relegation saga pending in court. Currently, there are 13 teams in the MTN National First Division, with the 14th member still unknown four months into the new campaign. Meanwhile, the Premier League has 14 teams but with Manzini Wanderers still floating. This is due to the fact that the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) is unable to declare the second team, after Denver Sundowns which has to play in the lower division. This has to be informed by last season’s MTN Premier League log standings.

The 2023/24 Premier League Rules and Regulations stipulated that the two teams finishing at the bottom would be automatically demoted from top-flight league. Meanwhile, two teams were also to be promoted from NFD which were Sidwashini United and Sisonkhe.The 2023/24 Premier League Rules and Regulations stipulated that the two teams finishing at the bottom would be automatically demoted from the top-flight league. Meanwhile, two teams were also to be promoted from NFD which were Sidwashini United and Sisonkhe.

At the conclusion of the season, Manzini Wanderers were last, while Sundowns occupied the seat above. However, the PLE was unable to discuss the matter of relegation pertaining to the ‘Weslians’ at the Extraordinary Meeting on August 10, 2024, due to a court order, which stopped the PLE from discussing the relegation agenda item. Wanderers sought a court order stopping it because there was still a pending court case involving Sundowns’ skipper, Jimoh Moses. The maroon and white outfit had lodged a protest on May 19, 2024, during a relegation decisive match, which they eventually lost 4-2 to Denver.

They claimed Sundowns’ Ghanaian defender was ineligible to play, allegedly for not having a proper work permit. The Nyanga ‘Crooks’ Hlophe side eventually won the matter at the High Court after losing it at the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Disciplinary Committee (DC) and Appeals Board. However, Sundowns, along with Moneni Pirates as well as Moses appealed Judge Mumcy Dlamini’s the decision that the latter did not have a valid work permit. Judge Dlamini ruled that the relevant football structures should review and set aside the appeal. She said Wanderers should be included in the ongoing MTN Premier League. The appeal is still awaiting a date at the Supreme Court.

As a result, the PLE could not feature Wanderers in either division as the outcome of the case may change the hub-giants’ fate. If Wanderers win the appeal, Pirates are likely to become victims of relegation as they finished third from bottom last season. Nonetheless, the current 13-team NFD league is competing for the E50 000 first-round incentive. Malanti Chiefs are favourites with a six-point lead at the summit. If it were based on the number of teams, they would require just anything besides a defeat in today’s match against All Nations to claim the prize. Sidwashini United were last season declared first round champions with a game to spare.

Catch-up

Not unless otherwise, the PLE has to freeze the awarding to allow the fourteenth team to play catch-up matches and see if it could potentially be the winner. The Polycarp Dlamini-led organisation is seemingly heading for another headache in the top-tier division as the first round nears conclusion. The Premier League enters week 10 with a fierce battle among the top seven teams for the E100 000 incentive. Current log leaders, Green Mamba, clinched the ‘carrot’ last season. Meanwhile, the PLE Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pat Vilakati, confirmed that there would be no declaration of first-round winners yet, pending the ongoing court case. Vilakati said all stakeholders and the public would be notified through the media once a decision is made, amid the current situation. ‘Kungumusa’, as Vilakati is popularly known, also admitted that Chiefs are currently performing well in the lower division.  He said this makes them strong darlings for the incentive. On another note, he reminded fans that tickets are still sold at stadium gates and said fans would be notified once there are any changes to this arrangement.

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