HIGHLANDERS’ NYAWO IN REGISTRATION HEADACHE

MBABANE – Mbabane Highlanders’ goalkeeper, Qiniso ‘Kati’ Nyawo, is ensnared in a complex registration dilemma, as the January transfer window looms.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Highlanders had parted ways with Nyawo after a mere two months with the club. The former Young Buffaloes player had signed with the capital city giants in anticipation of the 2024/25 MTN Premier League season, but exited without making a single official appearance.

Having joined Mbabane Highlanders in July, Nyawo, who was awarded the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) 2023 Trade Fair Cup Goalkeeper of the Tournament, reportedly left due to disagreements over certain terms of his contract. Sources close to the club suggest that he was offered a one-year deal, but has since been released and instructed to collect his clearance, enabling him to join a team of his choice.

In a brief interview, Nyawo confirmed his departure from Highlanders, stating: “I have decided to leave Mbabane Highlanders, and I was told to collect my clearance at any time.” When queried about his next move during the January registration period, he mentioned he had yet to make a decision, but would focus on maintaining his fitness in the meantime.

However, International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) regulations stipulate that a player can register with a maximum of three clubs within the same season, although they may only participate in official matches for two of those clubs. This rule, outlined in FIFA’s Player Transfer Regulations, prohibits a player from officially playing for multiple clubs simultaneously within the same season. As Nyawo has already registered with Buffaloes and subsequently with Highlanders, he is consequently barred from playing for any other club in the 2023/2024 MTN Premier League season.

Integrity

An anonymous FIFA-licensed player agent remarked: “FIFA’s registration rules are essential for ensuring fair play and maintaining the integrity of the game. “All players must adhere to these regulations, as violations can lead to severe consequences.” The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) has announced that the second registration window for the current MTN Premier League season will open on Monday, January 16, 2023.

Meanwhile, one notable case is that of Brahima Konaté, who encountered challenges related to FIFA’s transfer regulations during his career. After moving from Toulouse to RB Leipzig in 2019 and being loaned to another club, he faced complications with registration due to his involvement with multiple clubs within the same season. As a potential resolution to Nyawo’s registration quandary, it may be prudent for him to consider returning to Mbabane Highlanders or, in a worst-case scenario, sit out the second round of the season without a team.

This approach would allow the goalkeeper to avoid any potential breaches of FIFA’s registration regulations, as he remains registered with the club until the season’s conclusion. Efforts to reach the Mbabane Highlanders goalkeeper for comment at the time of compiling this report were unsuccessful.

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