Eswatini Football Association
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The former FIFA accredited referee Mr. Simanga Nhleko’s disqualification of being one of the candidates for the Eswatini Referees Association’s (ERA’s) elections has been lifted by the Eswatini Football Association’s (EFA’s) Ethics Committee. This was after one of the nomenees lodged a complaint as per Article 58 of the FIFA Code of Ethics on allegations that he campaigned which is an act that is prohibited for this elections.
Mr. Simanga Nhleko exercised his right and appeal the decision of the Ethics Committee to disqualify him; and subsequently succeeded in the Appeals Board. He is now eligible to stand for elections in the position of Chairman.
The much anticipated COSAFA Women’s Championship Gqeberha 2021 draw has been implemented. A total of twelve countries will compete in the competition which includes nine countries from the COSAFA region and three guest nations from the other CAF zones. Group A comprises of South Africa, Malawi, Angola and Mozambique. In Group B there is Botswana, Tanzania, South Sudan and Zimbabwe and in Group C there is Zambia, Namibia, Eswatini and Uganda. The competition is scheduled to kick off on the 15th and end on the 26th September 2021 in Gqeberha.
According to the Senior Women’s National Team (Sitsebe) Head Coach Dumisani Makhanya, this is a tough draw with all the groups being strong. “It is a tough draw and the is no better group as all the national teams are very much competitive”, Makhannya said. With the COVID-19 pandemic still terrorising the globe, the coach lamented the effects of this virus as it adversely affected the fitness levels of the national team players. “The current situation of the players is worsened by the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic as the players were not playing for a very long time, however as the technical team we are working very hard in preparing the national team that will match the international standard of play”, Makhanya said. Sitsebe has been training three times a week and will soon go to full time camp in readiness of this competition.
The U-20 Women National Team is confident about qualifying to the second round of the FIFA-20 Women World Cup after playing to a barren draw against Mozambique on home turf. Both teams are due to play against each other in the second leg to be implemented in Maputo, Mozambique on Saturday, 21st August 2021. The national team created numerous scoring opportunities during the match that was played at the Mavuso Sports Centre in Manzini but did not convert them to goals. “We created a lot of chances unfortunately we did not score”, said Coach Simphiwe Simelane.
She also highlighted that they will go to Mozambique for a win and proceed to the next round. “We will go to Maputo for a win as we want to qualify to the next round of the qualifiers. “ We will go to Maputo for a win as we want to qualify to the next round”, Simelane said. Her words were echoed by the national team captain Simangele Sikhondze who minced no words that they will qualify for the next round. “Even though we didn’t score here at home, we are confident that’s we will finish the business in Maputo and qualify for the next round”, Sikhondze said. Currently the national team is in camp at the Lobamba Technical Centre in readiness for the away match against Mozambique.
The Eswatini Referees Association’s (ERA’s) elections has been deferred by the Eswatini Football Association’s (EFA’s ) Ethics Committee due to an appeal that was filled by Mr. Simanga Nhleko after he was ruked to have campaigned to be elected. This was disclosed by the Ethics Committee through the Chairperson Senior Magistrate Siphosini Dlamini. The elections were scheduled for Sunday, 1st August 2021 at Sigwaca House in Mbabane.
“The Ethics Committee has decided to defer the elections as one party decided to file an appeal after he was disqualified”, Dlamini said. This disqualification was implemented after Mr. Sabelo Kunene filed a complaint on Tuesday in reference to Article 58 of the FIFA Code of Ethics. Campaigning is prohibited in as far as these elections are concerned, which an act that the Investigatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee discovered that it was implied by Mr. Simanga Nhleko thus his disqualification.
As per the EFA Electoral Code, Mr. Simanga Nhleko had a right to appeal which he did. “Mr. S. Nhleko had a right to appeal within three days which he did thus the deferring of the elections”, Dlamini said. The future date for the elections will be communicated in due course. Another campaigning matter was also reported which involved Mr. John Mensah who was accused of using a social media platform (WhatsApp) to campaign. The Ethics Committee is also working on this matter as well.
The Women U20 National Team is currently in camp preparing for the 2023 FIFA Women U20 World Cup Qualifier Match which also serves as the 2022 Total Women U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier match as well. Eswatini will play against Mozambique at the Mavuso Sports Centre on Saturday, 7th August 2021 and kick-off is at 1500hrs (3:00 pm). The second leg will be played in Mozambique on the 21st August 2021. The aggregate winners will play against South Africa in a two legged encounter late September and early October respectively with the winner qualifying for the 2022 Total Women U20 Finals to be implemented in Morocco whilst the 2023 FIFA U20 Women World cup will be played in Costa Rica.
“The preparations are going well even though COVID-19 had a great effect on the players’ level of fitness but we are doing our level best to have a competitive team come match day”, said the national team head coach, Simphiwe Simelane. She also highlighted that the technical team is aware on what to expect from the opponents as they know them. “We know Mozambique as a fast team thus we are working of the speed of the players”, she said.
Nonjabuliso Mogkale who is the captain of the national team, stated wthe they are looking forward to the match. “We are looking forward to this match and come match day, we will be ready for Mozambique as we are targeting for a win”, Mokgale said. Her words were echoed by the national team defender; Simangele Sikhondze who stated that they want positive results in as far as this match is concerned. “Come match day, we will be ready for them as we have already switched in as far as this match is concerned, regardless of the COVID-19 effects”, Sikhondze said.
The Executive Committee Members of the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) has co-opted Ms Cindy Dludlu into the Executive Board of the football association. This is due to the non-election of a woman or female candidate at the recently concluded EFA Executive Committee Election 2021. She was co-opted during the EFA Executive Committee meeting that was held on the 27th July 2021 which made her the EFA Executive Committee Member with immediate effect, for the current period of the Executive Committee (2021-2025).
This implemented action is as per Article 35 (4) of the EFA Status which provides that; in the event a women or female candidate has not been elected into the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee shall co-opt a women as an additional member in compliance with the requirement for Executive Committee Members as prescribed in Article 35(6) of the EFA Statutes. Ms. Dludlu, also successfully passed the eligibility verification process conducted by the EFA Ethics Committee, as foreseen by the EFA Electoral Code for all members of the Executive Committee.
EFA beliefs that with her vast experience in the football game coupled with her professional proficiency, she will augment value and diversity to its governance, administration and development. The football association also congratulates her on her co-option and into the Executive Committee and supplementary extends her best biddings of prosperity as she extends her executes her accountabilities in the governance, administration and development of the game of football.
The Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harris Bulunga has congratulated the eEFA President Peter Simelane for winning the recently implemented EFA Presidential elections that were held on the 27th June 2021. “Firstly, we congratulate President Simelane for winning the EFA elections”, Bulunga said. The Honourable Minister also assured the Ministry’s support towards the development of football in the country. “We have assured him that we will continue to support the EFA as we work towards developing football and all sport in the Kingdom and we hope that all stakeholders within football will do the same", Bulunga said.
The Honourable Minister also expressed the ministry’s delight on the performance of the Senior Men National Team (Sihlangu) during the COSAFA Cup 2021 that was held in Gqeberha. “We also congratulated the President on the recent good performance of Sihlangu and expressed our desire to see this being used as a stepping stone for sustained progress across all football national teams”, Bulunga said.
EFA President Mr. Peter Simelane who was in the company of the football association’s General Secretary Mr. Frederick Mngomezulu expressed their delight of meeting the Ministry. “We are happy to have met the Ministry and to have had fruitful discussions and shared good ideas”, Simelane said. He also assured the Honourable Minister that EFA will always be ready to receive the Ministry’s guidance and direction. “We stand ready to always receive the Ministry’s guidance and direction and we look forward to continued, regular engagements as we continue to work together to develop football in the country”, Simelane said.
The Eswatini Football Association’s Ethics Committee though its Chairperson Senior Magistrate Siphosini Dlamini has unveiled the list of nominees for elections of the Lubombo Regional Football Association (LRFA) scheduled for the 8th August 2021. This is after the committee has implemented the eligibility checks for the candidates as per Article 7 and 8 of the Electoral Code of 2021. These nominees are not allowed to do any campaigns and/or any form of campaigns as they are strictly prohibited. The nominees are as follows:
Chairman
Nichodemus Mashwama, Sifiso Shabalala, Richard Shongwe
Vice Chairman
Thokozani Shongwe
Members
Lucky Dlamini, Louis Munro, Phumzile Dlamini, Zwelithini Ndzimandze, Sifiso Dlamini, Patrick Mkhatshwa, Thokozani Bhembe, Sikhumbuzo Nlkambule, Simo Sikhondze,Solomon M,abila, Dumezweni Dlamini
The Eswatini Football Association’s (EFA’s) Ethics Committee has officially announced the nominees for the positions of the Eswatini Referees Association (ERA) and the Swaziland Football Coaches Association (SFCA). The nominees are as follows:
1. ESWATINI REFEREES ASSOCIATION
CHAIRMAN
Jabulani Motsa, Sabelo M. Kunene, Simanga P. Nhleko, Bhekisizwe I. Mkhabela
VICE CHAIRMAN
Mbong’seni E. Fakudze,Bongizwe K. Mkhatshwa
SECRETARY
Mbongeni V. Shongwe, Mandla I. Gama
VICE SECRETARY
Mandla I. Gama, Banele V. Nhlengethwa, Thembisile P. Mathonsi, Lungile P. Nxumalo, Jabulani Motsa
TREASURER
Mandla I. Gama, Enock S. Silenge, Phinda M. Dlamini
MEMBERS
Thembisile P. Mathonsi, Lucky M. Ndlangamandla, Thulani D. Nknyane, Phinda M. Ndzimandze, Celumusa S. Malinga, Lybnar S. Sibiya
2. SWAZILAND FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION
CHAIRMAN
Anthony Mdluli
VICE CHAIRMAN
Mphumelelo P. Ngwenya, Raymond B. Dlamini
SECRETARY
Emmanuel M. Mamba
VICE SECRETARY
Thembela P. Dlamini, Vusisizwe Mahlalela
TREASURER
Dominic K. Kunene
MEMBER
Vusisizwe Mahlalela, James M. Kunene, Mfanasibili Khumalo, Mphumelelo P. Ngwenya
Any form of campaigns for all positions is strictly prohibited, whether those acts are done directly by the nominees or indirectly by their purported agents. The elections for the SFCA are scheduled for the 31st July 2021 at Sigwaca House whilst those for the ERA are scheduled for the 1st August 2021 at a venue still to be announced.
The Eswatini Men National Team (Sihlangu) is very much cautious ahead of the semi-final match against Senegal to be played on Friday, 15th July 2021 at the Nelson Mandela Bay in Gqeberha and kick-off is at 1400hrs (2:00 p.m.). This is an important match in the history of the national team as a win will guarantee Sihlangu a place in the final for the first time in this competition. Sihlangu Head Coach, Dominic Kunene has given this fixture the special attention that it deserves as he views it to be a difficult one. “This will be a difficult match and we will plan for it accordingly as the technical team of the national team”, Kunene said.
Sihlangu skipper, Lindo Mkhonta highlighted that they will take each match as this come and the players are positive about booking a place in the finals. “We will take each match as it comes and the lads are positive about booking a place in the finals”, Mkhonta said. His words were echoed by Sihlangu’s marksman, Sabelo ‘Sikhali”Ndzinisa who believe that the national team has a chance of qualifying for the final of this competition. “We have a chance of winning the match against Senegal”, Ndzinisa said.
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