Swazi Observer

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SIHLANGU PLAYERS OWED THREE MONTHS ALLOWANCES

By Sibusiso Masilela | 2019-09-12

SOCCER – THE going seems to be getting tougher for Sihlangu Semnikati players as they have not received their allowances since the 2019 COSAFA Cup.

A source close to the matter revealed that the players have not received any money since the annual regional showpiece, which was played in Durban, South Africa in June, which means the allowances have accrued for three months.

“This is just sad as the players have not received any money since the COSAFA Cup yet they are expected to perform to the best of their abilities.

“They have been promised to be paid by the Eswatini Football Association but it’s taking forever. The players are worried about the situation as they have played important games without getting any form of incentives.

“The morale has been low in the camp since the first leg against Djibouti because the Football Association has been shifting the goalpost about the allowances. Even now the EFA has not told the players when they would receive their money.

“They are literally failing to give a precise date and the players are now losing hope.” The source said this needed to be sorted soon as the players were not at all happy with what is going on.

“This is not to say they lost to Djibouti because of the allowances, but it looks like it’s a combination of factors. The EFA need to act swiftly.”

EFA Marketing and Communications officer Muzi Radebe could neither agree nor deny the matter when contacted yesterday.

“These are administrative issues between the Football Association and the players, therefore, I cannot say anything until I get something official concerning the matter you are talking about,” Radebe said briefly.

Each Sihlangu player is entitled to E200 training allowance per day and E1 000 winning bonus for donning the national team jersey.

Meanwhile, this is not the first time to hear Sihlangu players complaining about their allowances.

The nation’s pride recently crashed out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers after suffering to a 2-1 aggregate loss to minnows Djibouti.

The Kostadin Papic-led men will now face Zambia in the last qualifying round of the 2020 CHAN Qualifiers before taking part in the 2021 AFCON Qualifiers.

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