Africa-Press – Eswatini. The gloves are off! Mbabane Highlanders are challenging their MoMo Cup fine for damaging the synthetic track at Somhlolo National Stadium and are asking the Premier League of Eswatini to release their frozen E100 000.
This comes after the PLE announced that they withheld the capital city giants’ MoMo Cup winnings for damages caused by their team bus on the synthetic track.
The incident in question occurred during the semi-finals of the MTN MoMo Cup last month. The black and white outfit’s fans bayed for the blood of coach Dumisani ‘Du’ Makhanya after they lost to Moneni Pirates, which meant the team bus had to be driven closer to the technical area next to the pitch for them to board.
Mbabane Highlanders Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Clement Dlamini said they only learnt from the media that they won’t receive their prize money and were demanding its release.
“PLE hasn’t consulted us about this issue. I also asked even the team manager, he is not aware of anything. We were shocked to learn from the media that the money has been withheld.
“That’s the reason we are now calling for its release and are will challenge the charge,” he said.
Dlamini further disputed the fact that the club had decided to put the bus on the synthetic track on their own which caused damaged.
“What happened on that particular day is that our players and technical bench were being held hostage by the supporters after our loss to Moneni.
“The PLE chief of security advised us to use the front gates for exit instead of the usual one. It is the chief of security who drove the sprinter inside the stadium onto the track to fetch the players, therefore the blame can’t be on us, “he said.
PLE CEO Kenneth Makhanya was yet to respond to queries on the issue at the time of publishing the story.
Meanwhile, the stadium has been temporarily closed.
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