Africa-Press – Eswatini. After multiple fixtures at the Uneswa Sports Ground (Kwaluseni Campus) the demarcating lines are getting faint.
University of Eswatini (UNESWA) has been a busy venue since the launch of the Under-19 Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) League. The venue has had over six games played over the course of two weeks. The game between Moneni Pirates and Royal Leopards had a few sparkling conversations before it went underway. It was only when the match had begun where one of the linesmen, Thandolwethu Gadlela, noticed that he had difficulty identifying the halfway line. In a soccer match, two linesmen are appointed, whose duties are to indicate when the ball is out of play and which side is entitled to the corner kick, goal-kick or throw-in. When a substitution is desired, without the proper markings on the field, it makes the official’s job slightly harder to make the correct decision. They also assist the referee in controlling the game in accordance with the laws.
Slightly
Gadlela then opted to make things slightly easier for himself in order to make the correct decisions in benefit of a fair game. He communicated to his fourth official that he couldn’t properly identify the lines, in so doing, he got a 500ml Viva branded water bottle to assist him in identifying the halfway line. Article 3.4 of the 2023 PLE U19 Rules and Regulations states that the home team shall be responsible for ensuring that the field of play is ready, the grass cut properly, the lines properly marked, the nets are secure and flag poles in place. Failure to comply will mean that the team has failed to fulfil its fixture and will therefore be deemed to have caused an abandonment of the game.
If found guilty of such an offence, they lose the match, with three points and three goals awarded to their opponents and further fined up to a maximum of E4 500 by the disciplinary committee (DC). Refreshing to see was the level of professionalism and maturity in majority of the clubs. Inasmuch as UNESWA Sports Ground is a less preferred playing field, no complaints have been recorded from the players thus far. However, the game between Mbabane Swallows and Green Mamba had a few eye-opening incidents, where the Correctional Services side hosted the capital city giants to a six-goal thriller.
Alternative
The Birds got the better of the green and white side, putting four past their shot stopper. In the second half of the fixture, Green Mamba opted to make a change. However, there were a few kit issues, as the kit they had brought as an alternative was a few jerseys short. The correctional side had fielded Bayanda Malinga in their first eleven and wore shirt number seven. Realising that they had a shortage in tops, Bonginkhosi Kunene, the Correctional Services side head coach asked the fourth official if they could reuse their number seven as 17 after Malinga was subbed off. The green and white side got the green light after a few moments of discussions with the officials.
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