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SOCCER – FORMER local football stars have voiced their displeasure at Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Hlobsile Ndlovu’s decision to allow the participation of active players during the Mini World Cup tournament to be hosted in the country this weekend.
The players, some of which are former Sihlangu stars, have criticised this decision as they feel it would rob them the opportunity to feature during the event.
One of such is former Manzini Wanderers dribbling wizard Sipho ‘Shisa Gesi’ Mdluli who stated that the move to allow active players was unfair.
“All along, we have been made to believe that this was going to be a social event where former football players would be given the platform to display their football skills but we are disappointed to note that the rules of the tournament have now changed. It now looks like we are being left in the cold because clearly, the inclusion of the active players means that we won’t get a chance to play now.
“We are appealing to the Minister to reconsider this stand and give us a chance as former players to feature in the tournament without the involvement of the active players,” he appealed. The talented former striker stated that as former players they were eager to represent the country well during the games.
The tournament would feature 13 other countries namely Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, DR Congo, Ghana, USA, Cameroon, South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, India and Portugal, amongst others.
These countries have also been given the leeway to include active players currently playing in the local domestic leagues.
unhappiness
Former Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) official Martin ‘Internash’ Dlamini also voiced his unhappiness at the decision by the Minister to change the rules of the tournament. he wondered what criteria the organisers would effect to pick the Swazi team that would be competing in the competition.
“The initial rules that this tournament be organised for retired players was the correct one because it’s supposed to be a social one.
“This is actually what we have all along believed in but it would seem former players are being thrown out in the cold under unclear reasons. This is wrong for many reasons and we don’t understand why the format of the tournament was changed in the first place,” Dlamini pointed out.
However, when sought for comment yesterday, the Minister explained that the decision to include active players was not done with bad intentions.
“I was told that the rules were changed to make the tournament competitive. Let me point out that as for the local team, we would ensure that the active and retired players are picked on equal terms. This means we would have an equal number of those set of players to ensure that there is fairness.
It’s not like this is now going to be a tournament for Sihlangu, it would be 50/50 in as far as the selection of the players is concerned,” she assured. The tournament would kick-off tomorrow at the Mavuso Trade Centre and the finals would be staged on Sunday at the same venue.
The players, some of which are former Sihlangu stars, have criticised this decision as they feel it would rob them the opportunity to feature during the event.
One of such is former Manzini Wanderers dribbling wizard Sipho ‘Shisa Gesi’ Mdluli who stated that the move to allow active players was unfair.
“All along, we have been made to believe that this was going to be a social event where former football players would be given the platform to display their football skills but we are disappointed to note that the rules of the tournament have now changed. It now looks like we are being left in the cold because clearly, the inclusion of the active players means that we won’t get a chance to play now.
“We are appealing to the Minister to reconsider this stand and give us a chance as former players to feature in the tournament without the involvement of the active players,” he appealed. The talented former striker stated that as former players they were eager to represent the country well during the games.
The tournament would feature 13 other countries namely Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, DR Congo, Ghana, USA, Cameroon, South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, India and Portugal, amongst others.
These countries have also been given the leeway to include active players currently playing in the local domestic leagues.
unhappiness
Former Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) official Martin ‘Internash’ Dlamini also voiced his unhappiness at the decision by the Minister to change the rules of the tournament. he wondered what criteria the organisers would effect to pick the Swazi team that would be competing in the competition.
“The initial rules that this tournament be organised for retired players was the correct one because it’s supposed to be a social one.
“This is actually what we have all along believed in but it would seem former players are being thrown out in the cold under unclear reasons. This is wrong for many reasons and we don’t understand why the format of the tournament was changed in the first place,” Dlamini pointed out.
However, when sought for comment yesterday, the Minister explained that the decision to include active players was not done with bad intentions.
“I was told that the rules were changed to make the tournament competitive. Let me point out that as for the local team, we would ensure that the active and retired players are picked on equal terms. This means we would have an equal number of those set of players to ensure that there is fairness.
It’s not like this is now going to be a tournament for Sihlangu, it would be 50/50 in as far as the selection of the players is concerned,” she assured. The tournament would kick-off tomorrow at the Mavuso Trade Centre and the finals would be staged on Sunday at the same venue.
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