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PLS needs E1m for U-20 League

19/08/2013 06:45:00 BY ASHMOND NZIMA

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Manzini Wanderers juniors Junior Sengwane and Sifiso Mbokazi at the launch of the national Under-20s league at La Casserole Restaurant in Mbabane yesterday. (Pic: Ashmond Nzima)

MBABANE – The Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) will need at least E1 million to run the proposed National Under-20 League.

This has caused the delay in the league’s kick off, as the organisation runs helter-skelter in a bid to secure the money, which will be used in paying salaries for fulltime staff that will be hired by the PLS.

A larger chunk of the money will be used to transport the respective juniors’ teams to and from their playing venues. Part of the money will also be used to pay the League’s match officials’ allowances. PLS Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nqobile Magagula confirmed that her office was currently in a fix but assured teams that the League will definitely kick off even though it will be later than the MTN League’s kick off.

“We are presently on the verge of hiring staff fulltime for the league. I am not yet done but I can assure the team that before the end of the month we might have someone in office who will be tasked with managing the affairs of the competition.

“In total we will need about E1 million to run the competition. It will be more expensive because we are dealing with children here unlike adults. Children for instance also need transport to take them back home after their respective games and they cannot be left at the stadiums but it should be the responsibility of the organisation to ensure that they are driven safely home,” she said.

Asked on why they were not using the E80 000 grant which is from the football mother body, the National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS), Magagula said they would make a plan to ensure that the Under-20 League starts and is well managed.

“It appears that as an organisation we have to dig deeper into our coffers and use part of the profits we made to run the league. I can assure all teams that the league will definitely kick off even though it would be a bit later than the MTN League kick off.

What we have from the FA is E150 000, which has been channelled towards development,” she said. However, the NFAS Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frederick Mngomezulu insisted yesterday when reached for a comment that the association gave the PLS E800 000.