By MELUSI MLOTSA | 2020-07-01
SOCCER - CAPITAL city giants Mbabane Highlanders and army side Young Buffaloes are among the teams that remain committed to playing all the eight remaining fixtures this season.
The teams made their submissions about the fate of the season, where others also submitted ‘possible scheduling models’.
This comes after 18 Premier League clubs have called for the nullification of the current campaign.
This publication has since gathered that two sworn rivals in Mbabane Highlanders and Mbabane Swallows have different opinions on the season’s fate.
Highlanders are part of the eight teams that submitted before the Premier League of Eswatini COVID -19 Task Team to finish the season, while Swallows join the other 10 teams who want the season to be declared null and void.
This report was submitted to the PLE Executive Committee on Friday after the task team completed its two-week exercise of assessing the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on local football.
Ironically, the two teams (Swallows and Highlanders) have unfinished business in the MTN Premier League, where they are expected to face each other in the second round.
Completed
The other six teams that also want the season to be completed are Moneni Pirates, Malanti Chiefs, Tambankulu Callies, Madlenya FC, Manzini Sea Birds and Royal Leopard.
Meanwhile, hub giants Manzini Wanderers are part of the 18 teams that want the season to be nullified.
“It’s true that Swallows and Highlanders want the season to be completed.
However, the other 18 teams are all calling for the nullification of the current season, as they stated that they did not have the capacity to continue with football activities under the current situation.
Most clubs mentioned that they did not have enough resources that can enable them to meet some of the requirements of playing football amid the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak,” the source said.
When sought, Premier League of Eswatini Chief Operations Officer Pat Vilakati said it was too early for him to comment on the matter.
“The contents of the report have not been released by the relevant structures and I can only be in a position to commit myself on the matter once it has been discussed by the appropriate bodies,” he said.
Decision
Meanwhile, Eswatini Football Association President Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa said they would wait until August before taking the final decision.
“We will make the final decision in August as we are still monitoring the situation in the country. We will also look at the consequences that will come with any decision that will eventually be taken,” he said.
The current football season had only two competitions which were left hanging, being the MTN Premier League and the EswatiniBank Cup before sporting activities were suspended by government.
However this decision has caused hullaballoo in corridors of football power and other stakeholders, including sponsors, players and fans alike. Some have claimed life was literally boring and hopeless without football.
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