MBABANE – Manzini Wanderers face fresh uncertainty over their 8Bet Trade Fair Cup participation following yesterday’s PLE Annual General Meeting.
The development follows the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) AGM held at Sigwaca House on Saturday, where Wanderers’ relegation from the MTN Premier League was formally confirmed.
The maroon and white giants finished bottom of the top-flight standings last season but had sought to remain in the elite league by acquiring the Premier League status of MulaSport National First Division champions Red Rhinos.
However, the latest development means Wanderers are currently not listed in either the elite league or the National First Division, leaving their status and participation in the upcoming 8Bet Trade Fair Cup unresolved.
Wanderers Communications Manager Sandile ‘Ntofo’ Dlamini said the club had followed the required process when pursuing the status transfer and were now awaiting formal documentation from the PLE.
“We wrote letters at the time of buying the status and the PLE took the letter to the EFA. The EFA said the issue had to be deliberated on at the AGM. Wanderers were officially relegated at yesterday’s AGM.”
Dlamini said the next step was for the PLE and Wanderers to obtain the minutes confirming the club’s official relegation, after which they would continue pursuing the status issue.
“What is next is that the PLE and Wanderers must work on getting the minutes confirming that we have officially been relegated. As things stand, Wanderers are not in the NFD or the elite league.”
Despite the setback, Dlamini remained optimistic that the status issue could be resolved before the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup which starts this Sunday.
“We are waiting for an update from the PLE. From tomorrow, we will be pushing the issue of the status. We are optimistic that it will go to the end and our wish is for the Premier League status to be granted in time for the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup.”
The club is already preparing for the new season, with Dlamini revealing that recruitment is under way.
“We are working around recruitment and looking to bring in new players from the region. We want players who will wear the Wanderers kit with pride.”
He added that the club’s friendly matches were being used primarily to assess potential recruits rather than chase results.
“In our friendly matches, we are not necessarily there to win. We are there to assess the players and determine who can be part of the team.”
An independent source close to the issue said the Wanderers matter was discussed at the AGM, with the club’s Board raising the issue and Red Rhinos supporting the motion.
According to the source, the AGM guided Wanderers and the relevant parties to write formally to the Eswatini Football Association (EFA), after which guidance would be sought on the status transfer and the club’s eligibility to participate in the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup.
A separate source said the meeting had no objection to operating under the Wanderers FC name and remained determined to complete the status process.
“There is no objection to Wanderers’ case. We will operate as Wanderers FC. There is no way they can stop the passing of the name change.”
The source said Wanderers had submitted correspondence before the July 30 deadline and were hoping for a swift resolution.
“We are hoping this happens quickly before the Trade Fair Cup. It would be unfortunate if it takes too long.”
The uncertainty is particularly significant because Wanderers are expected to feature in the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup, where their potential participation has a direct bearing on the identity of the team that will face Green Mamba.
The club believe they cannot complete certain registration processes until the status matter is resolved.
Efforts to obtain comment from PLE Chief Executive Officer Pat ‘Kungumusa’ Vilakati were unsuccessful by the time of compiling the report, as he could not be reached on his mobile phone.
The latest development leaves Wanderers waiting for formal guidance from football authorities, with the clock ticking towards the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup.
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