SUPREME COURT SETS PLE APPEAL ASIDE

MBABANE – New twist! The Supreme Court has removed the appeal filed by the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) regarding the judgement delivered by Judge Mumcy Dlamini at the High Court in favour of Manzini Wanderers. Dlamini’s order directed the PLE and the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Appeals Board to comply with the orders issued on September 27, 2024, ensuring Moneni Pirates are not negatively impacted and that Wanderers are included in the current Premier League fixtures.

The order also instructed the PLE and the EFA Appeals Board to take any other necessary steps to normalise the situation. Manzini Wanderers have declared before the panel of three Supreme Court judges, Nkululeko Hlophe, Sabelo Matsebula and Magriet Van der Walt, that they have no objections regarding any decisions concerning Moneni Pirates in the outcome of the matter.

Revealed

This was revealed by their legal representative, Mduduzi ‘Tsotsi’ Mabila, instructed by SM Jele Attorneys, during the hearing of the application filed by the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) concerning the judgement delivered by Dlamini. This was after the maroon and white hub giants ran to court seeking intervention on the verdict delivered by the EFA Appeals Board in the protest they lodged over Denver Sundowns defender Jimoh Moses.

Wanderers alleged that Moses had no valid work permit during their 2023/24 MTN Premier League relegation six-pointer match, which was played at Somhlolo National Stadium on May 19, 2024. Wanderers were summoned before the EFA Appeals Board, which dismissed their case, as the EFA Disciplinary Committee (DC) had also done the same. Judge Dlamini declared that Jimoh was not eligible to play in that match and ordered that the Appeals Board’s decision be reviewed and set aside, adding that the team be included in the league.

Affected

Mabila stated that they never suggested that Pirates should be affected by the September 27, 2024 order. “The issue of Moneni Pirates is not our concern,” he said. The PLE, represented by Meluleki Ndlangamandla of MLK Ndlangamandla Attorneys, submitted that the court cannot order Wanderers to play without a licence. Advocate Mabila, when responding to the issue of the licence, disclosed that the matter was not yet before the court and they would deal with it at the appropriate time.

Explained

Advocate Lucas Maziya, representing Moneni Pirates, Denver Sundowns and Jimoh Moses, explained that while he had not filed any papers, he was present in court as his clients were cited in the matter. He suggested: “The matter should be stayed until the main one is finalised and it should be removed from the roll.” After hearing submissions from all parties, the panel of judges announced that the matter would be removed from the roll, pending the finalisation of the case, which was before the same Supreme Court yesterday.

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