Africa-Press – Eswatini. With MTN Premier League games in full swing today, teams are not happy that they will have to play without their key players, who are currently in the Sihlangu camp.
With the league games continuing with today, some teams like Royal Leopard and Mbabane Highlanders have more than three players in the national team.
Mbabane Highlanders PRO Mandla Madonsela said they would have it tough without their players, who are with the national team. Highlanders will take on Green Mamba at Ka-Langa Stadium this afternoon. “We have even tried to get the players from the Sihlangu camp, but they declined to release them. What we were told is that they players will be released after camp. The sad part is that we never received a letter requesting the players to join Sihlangu.”
Madonsela said the absence of their key players would affect the team’s performance.
“These are our key players (Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa, Simphiwe Manana, Philani Mkhontfo and Khanyakwezwe Shabalala) and it will be difficult to play without them. We are in a serious problem, but there is nothing we can do.”
He said they were governed by policies. “We are affiliated to PLE and if they fixture us, we have to honour that match. We will definitely play the match against Green Mamba.”
He said it was wrong for EFA to speak directly to their players.
“We never released the players to join the national team. This is unfair because we are competing for the league title. We are already disturbed going into this match. We will do our best under the circumstances,” he said.
Affected
Royal Leopard coach Edwin Matsebula said they would be greatly affected, as a majority of their players were with the national team.
“We have seven players with the national team. I cannot even imagine playing without our key players. However, there is nothing we can do because we also take orders from the team’s authorities. We are expected to play today, and we will get a directive from them.” He said playing without their key players would disturb their plans.
The players are Phephisani Msibi, Mlamuli Msibi, Sikhumbuzo Magagula, Machawe Dlamini, Junior Magagula, Sifiso Matse and Mzwandile Mabelesa.
“We always plan around all our players, and this will affect our preparations for today’s match. We will wait and see what happens. We are aware of the fixture.” Matsebula said they wanted to win their remaining games. Leopard are currently sitting at the top of the MTN Premier League log with 65 points, while Highlanders are second with 63. The police side has a date with Manzini Wanderers at Nsukuwansuku Stadium today.
Meanwhile, Premier League of Eswatini Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Makhanya maintained that the league games would proceed this afternoon through a correspondence released yesterday. He further revealed that the games would be wrapped up this coming Sunday. Makhanya mentioned that players were expected to join the national team on May 30 as per the regulations. However, EFA stated that all players would be released back to their respective clubs after the Sihlangu second qualifier against Burkina Faso next month .
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