Africa-Press – Eswatini. There was an uproar over the 10 per cent commission for getting a sponsorship for the PLE.
This was after a lengthy debate during the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) annual general meeting (AGM), which was held at Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Hall in Mbabane, this past Sunday. The AGM, which saw almost a full house from teams representatives was held on Sunday. The issue of 10 per cent commission almost got the general assembly divided.
The biggest issue which was later revealed was that it was not meant for the executive committee, but was open to any football person who gets a sponsor. According to the finance policy, a member who gets a sponsor would get 10 per cent commission. “Can someone clarify the issue of 10 per cent, because seemingly, it is only meant for the PLE executive,” one speaker made a submission.
Another speaker said it was not fair for the PLE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenneth Makhanya to get the 10 per cent because he was hired by the office of the PLE. “Why should Makhanya get the 10 per cent because getting sponsors is part of his duties. This thing must be looked into and we need to come with a resolution,” submitted one of the speaker. However, another said the CEO also qualified as per the policy. The speaker said it was not Makhanya’s duty to get sponsors, but to run football in Eswatini. Another club representative wanted to know if the 10 per cent was budgeted for.
incentive
“I get that we are all talking about sponsorship incentive, but my question is; ‘Does the money comes from the sponsorship or the finance committee has to fork it out from somewhere?’ asked the speaker. This submission attracted mixed reactions, as some said it should be deducted from the sponsorship money. Others felt that was impossible, as the sponsorship money always came with allocations and could not finance the commission. It was resolved that the executive committee would have to devise a plan on where they could source the fund for the 10 per cent. Another speaker felt they should just get rid of this 10 per cent because it would be hard for the person who gets the sponsor to be given the commission. Team representatives went back and forth on this issue for almost an hour, voicing their thoughts.
According to Makhanya, there was nothing controversial about the 10 per cent, because it was open to anyone who gets a sponsor. “The 10 per cent was approved at the PLE Assembly held on 13 August 2022. The policy states that any person(s) that secures a new sponsorship for the PLE qualifies,” said Makhanya.
qualified
When asked if the CEO qualified, he responded to the affirmative. “The CEO qualifies for new sponsorships that he secures for the PLE,” said the former Mamelodi Sundowns General Manager. Meanwhile, back in 2007; there was a huge outcry in South Africa, over an almost similar issue. Then Finance Minister Trevor Manuel when it emerged that South Africa’s Premier Soccer League executive committee members were each due to receive R50 million for their role in securing a E1.6 billion broadcast deal with SuperSport and a R500 million sponsorship agreement with Absa. Manuel called payments of commissions to soccer officials ‘morally reprehensible’.
In an open letter to then Absa chief executive Steve Booysen, he wrote: “My understanding is that individuals are elected on to the league’s various committees to serve the interests of the sport, not in the expectation of acquiring personal fortunes to the detriment of the organisation they are representing.” The PSL then appeared before Parliament’s portfolio committee on sports, where Chairperson Irvin Khoza argued the individuals deserved ‘to be rewarded with millions’ as ‘they have done the best for football … and have acted in the best interest of the PSL’. The amount was settled at R70 million and a three-man team comprising Jomo Sono, the late Jabu Khumalo and Jose Ferreira was appointed to determine how much each individual should get. This decision was never made public and there was no clear determination on the way forward in handling such matters in the years to come.
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