16-team league critics off-side
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DEAR reader. It feels good to be back after a three-week hiatus. With so many issues to tackle, I feel like a mosquito in a nudist’s camp. Firstly, Sihlangu are through to the group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers after cruising past the continent’s whipping boys, Somalia. In fact, Somalia is the only nation to have lost to Eswatini in a qualifying match during outgoing Head Coach Dominic Kunene’s tenure. In a family of failures, even a third-class pass is celebrated. The real test will be in the group stages against some of the continent’s ‘big guns’. Speaking of Coach Kunene, his contract expired two days ago. If the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) is to be taken seriously going forward, they know what to do regarding the former Young Buffaloes gaffer’s future. His contract can be renewed on one condition: Sihlangu withdraws from all international competitions. With him on board, it becomes difficult to divorce Sihlangu and failure in one sentence.
Empty-handed
Team Eswatini, on the other hand, again returned home empty-handed from the recent African Games in Accra, Ghana. The country was represented in multiple sporting codes that included athletics, boxing, taekwondo and swimming. These are sporting codes that are part of the country’s Podium Performance Programme (PPP). Despite investing millions of Emalangeni in the programme over the years, Eswatini athletes still fail to leave a mark on the big stage. We continue to celebrate mediocrity like personal bests while other small countries like Lesotho reap medals. The fact that Eswatini and Malawi are the only two Southern African countries that have failed to reap medals in the African Games is a serious cause for concern.
Sprinters Sibusiso ‘Swazi-Bolt’ Matsenjwa and Bongiwe Mahlalela may have reached the finals of the 200 metres, but that is nothing to celebrate. At the end, the worst fears were confirmed. Eswatini has been without a medal at the African Games for 13 years. If they cannot conquer the continent, competing in the Paris Olympic Games later this year will be a sheer waste of time and resources. The least said about Eswatini boxers, the better. It is difficult to include Eswatini boxing and progress in one sentence. As per the suggestion of one of the parliamentarians, maybe investing in a high-performance centre is not a bad idea.
Proposed
Obviously, the major talking point over the past few days was the proposed 16team league. For starters, EFA, during the recent international break, organised a five-day administration and management course to ensure teams from both the National First Division and Premier League are run professionally. The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE), on the other hand, organised a meeting for the Board of governors (BoGs), but it was postponed. One of the issues was the continuation of the football league. In one of the EFA classes last week, a concern was raised as to why Sihlangu or players were not up to standard. For instance, it was learned that scientifically, a player at training must at least run 17km; in a game, at least 26km; and in a season, play at least 40 games. Players must rest for only 28 days in the off-season.
In our league, we take almost four months off, yet the players have to be taken care of by their bosses. With 14 teams, we play at least 30 games (knockouts included). This means players cannot clock the mandatory 40 games per season that the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) demands for all players around the world. One way to correct this is to increase the number of teams to 16 in the Premier League. As a result, this issue of 16 teams later came up in the course.
Target
In Scotland, for example, to meet this 40-game target, they play a first, second and third round. Most leagues in the region have a minimum of 16 teams. So it would be surprising for anyone to oppose the 16-team league because it will mean they do not have the interest of the national teams at heart. The issue on the table is increasing the teams to 16, so it should not be clouded with relegation. With six games to go, it is too early to talk about relegation. The how part will be discussed by the teams themselves at the right time. Even if it means there is no relegation this season, there is nothing wrong because there is a precedent. Those who follow football would remember without their memories being jogged that a 16-team league had to be introduced to save Mbabane Highlanders from relegation a few seasons ago.
The fact that the proposal was twopronged with a plan to turn the National First Division into a development league meant that it was presented in good faith.
Obstacle
The major obstacle of a 16-team league has been eliminated with the opening and re-opening of more playing venues like Mkhuzweni, KaLanga, Killarney, and Simunye. With Somhlolo included, the country has 11 soccer venues being used by NFD and Premier League teams. Yes, it is costly for the Premier League to run a big league, but on the flip side, there will be increased revenue in terms of gate takings. It means more mileage for sponsors as the league will play for more months. In the current set-up, by the time the league starts in early October, club bosses are forced to pay August and September salaries to players who are sitting at home. By the time the league starts, most teams are already in the red. So, those opposing the 16-team are enemies of progress.