LOBAMBA – Will the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Appeals Board be the last and final hope of giants Mbabane Highlanders?
The 2025/26 Ingwenyama Cup Rules and Regulations do not provide for the teams to take football conflicts to upper legal bodies, except for the EFA DC and the Appeals Board. The black and white capital city giants lost their almost three-week-old case before the Thulani Sibandze-chaired disciplinary committee (DC) on Tuesday night.
They were hauled before the DC for allegedly causing the abandonment of their Ingwenyama Cup Last 16 match against Nsingizini Hotspurs at the Mavuso Sports Centre. The match was abandoned with a minute to spare deep into stoppage time and the Shiselweni-based ensemble were leading 1-0.
A portion of the Highlanders supporters invaded the pitch in pursuit of referee Celumusa Sphepho. They alleged that his officiating on the day was biased. According to his report, Sphepho alleged that the supporters assaulted him and, in the process, lost his valuable items, which included the watch.
Highlanders, who initially pleaded not guilty in all three charges, were eventually found guilty in all the three charges of assaulting the referee, causing the abandonment of the game and failure to control their fans. They were fined E25 000 for the abandonment of the game and subsequently lost the game to Nsingzini. For assaulting Sphepho, they were slapped with E50 000 as both the DC and the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) prosecution consider this offence as being serious.
In the count of failing to control their supporters, the team were fined E3 000. This brought the total fines to E78 000. However, Sibandze said all the fines will run concurrently, and therefore, the team will pay E50 000.
Meanwhile, Inkunzi’emnyama are not backing down as they have officially filed a notice of appeal following Tuesday night’s verdict, which saw them hit with the huge fine and match forfeiture. The club, through a statement on their official Facebook page alleged bias and prejudice as they claim official match reports conveniently ignored incidents that should have seen their opponents sanctioned.
“In accordance with the provisions of the competition rules, the club has exercised its right to challenge the decision and will now await the next stage of the process as outlined by the regulations,” reads part of the statement.
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Mbabane Highlanders have been found guilty of causing the mayhem in last month’s Ingwenyama Cup Last 16 clash against Nsingizini Hotspurs. They are keen on appealing the verdict. (File pic)