Leopard have edge, ‘Big Derby’ 50/50 – ‘Bizzah’

M– It was delayed allowances payment for elite match officials but still timely paid as tomorrow’s MTN Premier League were under threat of having no match officials again.

Impeccable sources within the men in black had expressed concern that they had not been paid last month’s allowances by yesterday after lunch. The officials were said to have even started saying it loud among themselves that they would not attend tomorrow’s matches without their pay.

“We were tipped that we may not get paid because we did not honour matches last week Tuesday and we still haven’t received anything in our accounts,” claimed one of the sources.

The match official said it was not that they deliberately shunned the games, but the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) did not allocate them for the games.

“If we don’t get our salaries today (yesterday) we might not attend the games on Sunday (tomorrow),” the referee said as they submitted their claims from April 23 to May 15, this year. However, their worries were addressed earlier, only a handful with accounts in EswatiniBank received their money first yesterday.

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MWorries – It’s the big one next Sunday in the MTN Premier League – champions will be crowned.

The million-Dollar question is who, as leaders and defending champions Royal Leopard look ready to retain it despite being only a narrow two points ahead of second-placed Mbabane Highlanders, just like in 2016. Leopard play fourth-placed Young Buffaloes who can still finish second or third, with a win and a defeat or draw for third-placed Mbabane Swallows.

However, Buffaloes must overturn a 3-1 first round margin.

The latter play their traditional rivals Mbabane Highlanders who beat them 1-0 on January 23, 2022 at the Mavuso Sports Centre, courtesy of a Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndz

Retired referee Simanga Nhleko flanked by Wandile Dlamini (L) and Thembinkosi Magagula (R). This is not to suggest that these are the referees that Ndzinisa is complaining about.

PLE Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kenneth Makhanya, said he was not aware of the looming boycott by the referees as they had processed their pay. “What I am aware of is that match officials who bank with EswatiniBank get their fees much earlier than those with accounts with other banks,” Makhanya said. He also said that he was aware that the processing of the referees’ claims went slower than usual as they were having a new accountant, who was in the induction phase. Meanwhile, Eswatini Referees Association (ERA) Secretary General (SG)

MTN PREMIER LEAGUE GRAND CLOSING FIXTURES:

Sunday (June 12, 2022)

KaLanga Technical Centre:

Y. Buffaloes vs R. Leopard

Mavuso Sports Centre:

M. Swallows vs M. Highlanders 2:30pm 2:30pm

inisa penalty.

Highlanders need nothing but a win and then hope Buffaloes beat Leopard. A draw for Leopard will be enough even if Highlanders complete a double against Swallows, as head-to-head favours the police team. They beat Highlanders 2-0 and drew 1-1 in the two rounds.

Ahead of the final two games of a season that only had one tournament once again, as same was the case last season, Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Technical Director Boy ‘Bizzah’ Mkhonta weighed in on the ties yesterday.

“Very tough games! In the security forces match, Leopard have the

Mbongeni Shongwe admitted that the referees’ salaries were a little bit delayed due to some technicalities but at the time of compiling this report some had already been paid. “The PLE CEO informed me that there would be delays in the payments and I told the referees. I think the issue of last week Tuesday made them think otherwise,” he said.

The referees are paid E350 per game when officiating in a premier league game, while for the national first division it is E200 across the board. Match Commissioners are paid a bit higher than the referees. squad, Buffaloes also have it and they both have quality. It’s tough but Leopard have an edge as Buffaloes are not the same team they had been most recently after fusing in more young and new talent while Leopard have the young but more experienced team.

“The Mbabane derby is hard to predict, as these teams always give it their best to try and win. Looking at their squads they have quality and experience as well as young talent.

It’s a 50/50 game that may be decided by who of the two sides blends the players well as you need experience and those that will come with the energy,” Mkhonta responded yesterday morning on national radio Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS) when he asked to give his analysis. The grand closing fixtures will play simultaneously to ensure fair play.