Africa-Press – Eswatini. Stiff fines await Premier League rookies Madlenya.
The newcomers might be fined E95 000, should they be hauled before the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Disciplinary Committee (DC) chaired by Lawyer Thulani Sibandze. This was after one of their officials in John Matsenjwa did the unthinkable by attacking Green Mamba’s official photographer Siciniseko ‘Mavester’ Magagula. This incident happened in full view of the public during Madlenya and Green Mamba’s MTN Premier League game played at KaLanga Technical Centre on Sunday. The score was levelled at 0-0 when Matsenjwa went straight to Magagula, shouting unprintable words towards him as he was settling down to take snaps of the game with other journalists.
Ignore
Magagula tried to ignore him, but he was threatened with fists and the situation got ugly as Matsenjwa physically grabbed the photographer. In the process, Magagula’s camera fell and the situation was calmed by the arrival of police. The photographer left the scene and went to sit at the far end of the pitch to capture the proceedings of the match. This attack on Magagula did not sit well with the Lubombo-based side gaffer William ‘Baggio’ Gamedze, who blamed Matsenjwa for his team’s defeat to the log leaders. He revealed this during a post-match interview as he said it disturbed the concentration of his players. Just a few seconds after the skirmish, Inyoka Eluhlazane scored the opener and they added the winner about four minutes later to bag all the points.
Trouble
Matsenjwa’s unsporting conduct is frowned upon by the 2022/23 MTN Premier League Rules and Regulations and could land the team in trouble of paying over E90 000 in fines, should they be hauled before the DC and found guilty. The official has contravened Article 10 of the rules, specifically 10. 6. 3, which clearly states that: “Assaulting a Referee, Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) official, player, club official, steward, supporter, fan, spectator or the use of excessive force shall be punished with a fine not less than E50 000 by the DC. In addition, the offending club shall be ordered to compensate the victim for any financial, medical and any other loss incurred due to the assault.”
The team could also be charged using Article 10 .6. 5 in that Matsenjwa uttered derogatory words towards Magagula. This article states that the use of provocative or insulting gestures or signals, unbecoming behaviour or conspiracy or attempt to act to bring football into disrepute or inciting people to behave in a manner that brings the game of football into disrepute, the offender stands to be fined a minimum of E20 000 by the DC. Matsenjwa further contravened Article 10. 6. 7 and this might be applied by the DC as the team failed to control the wayward official. This article states clearly that failure to control fan(s), supporter(s), official(s), steward(s) by a club shall attract a fine not less than E25 000 from the DC. In total, this means that the team could be fined E95 000 should they appear before the DC.
Revoked
In trying to curb such issues in games, the PLE, through the office of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenneth Makhanya, has revoked the accreditation cards as well as suspending Mbabane Highlanders Official Sikhumbuzo ‘Mtheleweni’ Matimela and Green Mamba kit manager Simiso Masilela for the remainder of the season. The duo did the unthinkable when they decided to invade the centre of the pitch and pretended to be administering what can be termed as foreign substances before a game. Meanwhile, the DC this past Thursday banned another Highlanders Official Maswati Dlamini for assaulting a referee. He has been banned for three games. Dlamini’s ban followed that of Manager Simiso ‘Space’ Jele, who was also banned by the DC for two games after he drove the team’s bus into the Mayaluka Stadium.
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