MBABANE: Judgement in Wanderers plea to play High Court case has been reserved. As a result, the Premier Soccer League resumes this afternoon without them. Manzini Wanderers returned to the High Court this week to ask for an order requiring the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) to implement an existing judgement reinstating them to the MTN Premier League.
However the EFA has taken no action to execute the High Court Order. Perhaps with good reason. Moneni Pirates and Denver Sundowns who have appealed the earlier judgement at the Supreme Court, stepped in again to oppose Wanderers’ prayer for the High Court to order the EFA to implement the existing court order. The two say the court order issued by Justice Mumcy Dlamini cannot be implemented because it has been appealed at the Supreme Court.
The EFA which is the subject of the new Wanderers case did not file any papers. Justice Mumcy Dlamini has reserved judgement in the matter.
Meanwhile, the League is going forward, carrying along Moneni Pirates, who are fixtured against Young Buffaloes this afternoon.
It is clearly leaving Manzini Wanderers behind. Wanderers are one of the most important crowd pullers, even though they have recently fallen on hard times.
But if Wanderers were to return, Moneni Pirates seem to fear they would be displaced from the 14 team league. Since they missed relegation by a whisker, Pirates are putting their all to stay in the League. They have been busy making sure they stay winning. From their 4 Premier League games, they have won one game outright; drawn two and suffered a lonely loss. They may be justified in seeing themselves with a skin in a game in which they have invested body and soul; and would therefore have everything to lose from a Wanderers’ return.
Yet, it’s still a free for all moment of opportunity where three can tango. If Wanderers and Pirates can find justification to stay in the top league, so can Denver Sundowns. They see a sliver of hope that if they cast their dice correctly, they may fall seven up, perhaps even extricate them out of the lowly Second Division League. Like the others, they would much prefer the pound seats of the Premier League.
Wanderers convinced the High Court that Sundowns’ defender, Jimoh Moses was a defaulter who had played without a work permit when Sundowns beat them 4-2 in May. Sundowns disagree, and say Jimoh has a valid work permit.
But it is a four-way high stakes game of nerves. While Wanderers, Pirates and Denver are fighting for a spot on the top league, the EFA equally, is sweating at the table. The know the slew of court cases at the High Court are not good for the game. They are not good for the teams. They are not good for players. They are certainly not pleasing to the sponsor, MTN who would obviously prefer a squabble-free tournament.
Earlier in the year, PLE CEO Kenneth Makhanya in a radio interview ruled out the possibility of a 16 team League. But it’s unlikely to be the hill the EFA might be reluctant to die on. Cases at the Supreme Court can drag on, till the maize harvest next year; with the potential of a ruling that might upset an important the applecart.
Off-field instability is not good for the game. This week, it was reported that one of the top League teams was not been able to pay its players. This points to the kind of financial stress that can dog the game when teams play too many lean games against lean opponents with little crowd power. This is the value for which Manzini Wanderers would be missed.
For now, the PLE has ordered “the show must go on, sans Wanderers”; tentatively while keeping a keen ear on the much anticipated ruling on what the palace of justice wants done with Manzini Wanderers prayers.
Jm/today/19.10.2024
