COACH RISKS HEFTY FINE FOR ‘BULL’
● ’Landers South Africa-born gaffer Luvhengo does the unthinkable during Nsingizini game
MBABANE – Ridiculous! This came after Mbabane Highlanders South Africa-born Coach Solly Luvhengo did the unthinkable when he invaded the pitch in protest of Referee Celumusa Siphepho’s decision not to give his side a penalty. This was after a Nsingizini Hotspurs defender appeared to have handled the ball inside the box. This transpired during an MTN Premier League game between the two teams at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium on Sunday. His team eventually won the game by a lone goal scored deep into added time by second half substitute Tony ‘Ben 10’ Machacha.
For his action the former South Africa’s Amajita (Under-23s) gaffer, for his bizarre actions, risks a total fine of E70 000 for the black and white capital city giants, should they be hauled before the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Disciplinary Committee (DC).
Luvhengo contravened two articles of the 2022/23 MTN Premier League Rules and Regulations.
These are Articles 10.6.1 and 10.6. His team could be charged under Article 10.6.7 for failure to control the coach.
Invading
Article 10.6.1 states clearly that, invading the pitch before, during and after a game by a supporter(s), fan(s), a steward(s) or spectator(s) , celebration of a goal(s) attracts a summary fine of E25 000 from the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE). While Article 10.6.5 states that the use of provocative or insulting gestures or signals, unbecoming behavior 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 is punishable with a minimum fine of E20 000 by the DC. This article will apply in the sense that the action of the coach could have incited the supporters to attack the referee.
Meanwhile, the team might be charged under Article 10.6.7, as it failed to control the coach as he invaded the pitch. This article states that failure to control a fan(s), supporter(s), official(s) and steward(s) is punishable with a fine not less than E25 000 by the DC.
Inkunzi’emnyama is yet to be hauled before the DC for the commotion which happened a week ago at Mavuso Sports Centre, whereby the team’s supporters blocked the tunnels as they wanted to rearrange the match officials’ faces for ruling against a goal which was scored by Philani Mkhonto against Young Buffaloes.
They further attacked Amathole’zinyathi supporters’ bus after the game at the entrance to the stadium.
Mayhem
They were also fined E70 000 by the DC for the mayhem which erupted at the same venue after their game against Manzini Sea Birds, where the club’s supporters invaded the pitch in pursuit of Referee Mbongeni Shongwe for allowing a ‘hand of god’ goal by Sandumenzi Zwane.
It is worth mentioning that such cases are escalating in local football as Mbabane Swallows were also hauled before the same DC for the commotion which took place at the same venue after the ‘Big’ derby match, where supporters bayed for the blood of Referee Thembinkosi Dlamini and the team was fined E70 000 and played two of their games behind closed doors. Another incident happened this past Thursday when Moneni Pirates former skipper and defender Menzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane attacked referee Wandile Mamba during an MTN Premier League game against his erstwhile team Mbabane Swallows.
Efforts to get comments from the coach were fruitless at the time of compiling this report.