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PLS AGM says no to 16-team league

15/08/2013 05:03:00 BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO

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PLS Executive Member Mduduzi Mabila (L) addresses the gathering while PLS Chairman Victor Gamedze and Steve Horton look on. (Pic: Ntokozo Magongo)

MBABANE – Any hopes of escaping relegation by Mbabane Highlanders have been blown away as the PLS AGM rejected the implementation of 16-team league.

Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows had proposed that the Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) General Assembly should not only discuss the implementation of the 16-team league in both the Premier League and National First Division, but that the proposal should be adopted. However, the PLS executive, which had been tasked in a caucus meeting last month, submitted proof that the FA General Assembly, which had voted in favour of increasing clubs in both leagues this season, was unconstitutional.

The decision comes after the FA executive committee had taken the impasse over the 16-team league for arbitration that will be chaired by Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi.
Executive committee member Mduduzi ‘Tsotsi’ Mabila explained how a High Court judgment by former judge Thomas Masuku had made it clear that any decision taken outside the Constitution, whether by the FA assembly, cannot be effective.

This was during the relegation case between Hellenic F.C against the PLS in 2010.
He also cited article 19 of the FA Constitution which states that only matters on the increasing and decreasing of teams can be discussed by the affected affiliates, which in this case was the PLS.

Highlanders representative Charles ‘Ace’ Jele said they will have the matter looked at closely, but the resolution of the meeting was that the FA assembly took an unconstitutional decision, which the PLS could not implement. Gamedze stated that the decision to add teams was not only a financial drain but also touched on other logistics around infrastructure.

“We have done the research as per the request by the governors on the matter, and our finding is that the resolution by the FA was unconstitutional, hence we cannot implement it,” he said. Instead, the members were urged to make a fresh proposal on the matter that could be discussed in a Special General Meeting, which can only be convened once a petition, signed by a two-thirds majority of the 24 board members was availed.“The door is open for any member to forward a proposal on the 16-team league but that can only be through a Special General Meeting as per the constitution,” Gamedze said.

The resolution then paved way for the official relegation of Mbabane Highlanders and Red Lions from the elite league to the National First Division as per the rules and regulations of the MTN League. From the National First Division League, Tinyosi F.C, Hub Sundowns, Malkerns F.C and Mbotjeni Sundowns have all been relegated to their respective regional super leagues.

They will be replaced by Sikhalo Se-Afrika, Mvuma Hotspurs, All Nation and an unnamed team from the Manzini Region. Umbelebele Cosmos have joined RSSC United in gaining promotion to the Premier League replacing Highlanders and Red Lions.
The AGM was held at Sigwaca House where 15 of the 24 members attended.

PLS nets E1.5 million profits

MBABANE – The Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) last night reached financial heights when their audited accounts were unqualified for the first time ever.

The organisation, which netted over E1.5 million in profits which is a 50 per cent growth from last financial year’s E751 000, was hailed for finally putting controls in their operations.
The actual profit was E1 527 163 and it was thanks to the establishment of the organisation’s Finance Committee comprising of Moneni Pirates chairman Thulani ‘Maya’ Hlandze that helped improve the accounting system of the elite league football mother body.

The accounts were audited by Fips who stated that the improvements in the handling of the accounts necessitated the unqualification of the accounts, which in accounting is a sign of good fiscal discipline.
The auditors hailed the improved gate collections which soured from just over E500 000 to close to E1 million.

collections

“We had been unable in the past to state where they have sourced certain money, as it was not clear how they managed, say, the gate collections for instance.
“And now everything has been properly managed and we believe it was just after our recommendations in 2011,” the auditors stated.
The organisation has about E1.6 million cash in the bank, and once again it was owed to a decision to have many accounts as part of trying to manage the finances.

The associations’ Finance Committee also echoed the auditors in affirming the profits.
Hlandze said tight controls were key in the success.

“We sat with the auditors to review the report and we can say the stringent controls employed in the past season were helpful,” he said.
The PLS also received an E800 000 donation from the FA which was part of the E5 million Sihlangu grant.

chairman Victor Gamedze said the money would be used to establish the Under-20 league which itself was in line with the FIFA Club licensing progra-mme.