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Has FA u-turned on 16-team league?

18/08/2013 10:01:00 BY BHEKISISA MAGONGO

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The long wait for the MTN League to start is over, after the Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) finally issued a fixture of three double headers on Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

At least this came as a sigh of relief following the uncertainties that have rocked the start of the league campaign as a result of the 16-team league saga the whole of the off season.
After Wednesday night PLS Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Sigwaca House, the meeting resolved that any proposal on the increase of the teams in both the National First Division League and Premier League should follow the constitutional requirements.

This therefore means that, clubs should now petition the PLS Executive Committee on the matter and to do that they would have to acquire a two-thirds majority from 24 members of the league. Having done that, the PLS chairman would then instruct the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to convene a Special General Meeting where the matter can be discussed and be approved. I personally believe that is fair even though, there is the Arbitration ruling by the Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi, which could put the matter to rest quicker than the suggested petition.
Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows had proposed that the PLS AGM should discuss the implementation of the contentious National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS) General Assembly ruling which endorsed the immediate increase of clubs in the two leagues to 16.

The move was vehemently opposed by the PLS on the ground that it did not follow the constitutional dictates, citing Article 19 of the FA Constitution which they said put the decision on the increase of any membership to the affected affiliates. This they said made the proposal submitted by the Manzini Regional Football Association (MRFA) which the FA assembly approved, unconstitutional and ineffectual.

The above scenario had obviously created a state of uncertainty in as far as the start of the league was concerned despite the fact the anxious spectators are itching to know if last season’s all-conquering Mbabane Swallows will repeat their treble feat.
I have said my piece regarding the whole scenario surrounding the 16-team league, and that while they are two sides to every issue; it is the motives and or intentions that are key in every idea that is being thrown around. It has been said here, that the idea of 16 teams can only be understood if it is done to the best interest of football than to serve certain individuals.

It was also highlighted in this column that the debate around the issue has been clouded by personalities from either camp; hence it has failed to yield results that will benefit football. Others who are for the idea, have been subjective in their approach, and they were met with a similar approach from those against the idea, hence the standoff.

While the PLS has done well to finally kick off the league and be ready to effect changes when and if they are needed regarding the 16-team league, it is the FA that has complicated everything for me here. After the decision taken to vote for the 16 team league, the FA executive seemed to have suffered a change of heart, by failing to implement the decision by their members.
On Wednesday, FA CEO said it was procedural to take a matter for arbitration if there is a party that is not satisfied with the decision. He was right, but all I was worried about is that when you are leadership, the precedence that you set is key for future reference.

Taking the matter for arbitration somehow vindicated the calls that the proposal by its very nature was unconstitutional, because were the FA executive sure that everything was done by the book, they wouldn’t have wasted the Chief Justice’s time seeking a ruling.

But it would appear that certain members within the FA executive committee believe what the PLS is alleging that the decision was unconstitutional, and non-binding as per the ruling of former High Court Judge Thomas Masuku in 2010 when he ruled that any decision either by the FA assembly or anyone if it is in contravention with the constitutional cannot be effectual.
It is strange that almost two months after the FA assembly the executive has failed to implement the decisions taken, except that elected members have already taken their seats in the committee.
The new-look committee headed by the ever-present FA president Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa seemed to have started on a back foot.

They appear to be lacking the courage to rule on issues decisively. In this case; it is either they stand by the decisions taken by the assembly or they come out and admit that the proposal on 16 teams was not properly forwarded.

They cannot afford to shift the blame to another body, when constitutionally they are supposed to be the highest decision-making body in the sport in the country. Does that mean that they will either allow unconstitutional proposals to come through in exchange for votes, or they will take decisions and later reverse them once they are in office?

All the above shenanigans have adverse effect on the marketing of the MTN League, which has suffered greatly when compared to other competitions.
The PLS office and the sponsors need no distractions from outside forces in their quest to up their game in marketing the tournament. As the ultimate trophy for every team, the MTN League need to be given the support it deserves. Let the games begin!