Mbabane: The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Chairman Mark Carmichael has confirmed that October 8, is their proposed kick-off date for the 2021/2022 premier league season.
These means pending the approval of government through the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs led by the Minister Harries “Madze” Bulunga.
The chairman conveyed the good news to PLE members during their special meeting which was held at Sigwaca House in Mbabane. Carmichael made the members fully aware that this was a proposal from the PLE because this needs to get a blessing of the sports ministry and the Eswatini Football Association (EFA). It was also mentioned that the premier league clubs will undergo COVID-19 testing on October 1, ahead of the anticipated start of pre-season preparation which is expected to last four weeks.
The chairman also told the members that they should encourage their fans to go for COVID-19 vaccination as a matter of urgency. “We need to appreciate that there are more football clubs that are seen taking the leading role and that is encouraging because there are better prospects of seeing fans returning to stadiums and possibly see other football competitions returning soon,”he said. He went on to say: “Let us preach the gospel of vaccination because it is the right thing to do,” said the chairman.
The (EFA) is preparing to submit a proposal to government for return of football fans to stadiums in the new season. The chairman said the absence of fans to stadiums in the new seasons is currently crippling in terms of revenue generation which they should be getting from gate takings.
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