CONGRATULATING THE PLS

Success is not measured by what you have accomplished but by the opposition you have encountered and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.

” These are the words of Orison Sweet Marden. I was ecstatic at the news that the Premier League of Swaziland is ranked 14th in Africa and Orison’s words flooded my mind. Africa has 54 independent countries who have football leagues and for us to be ranked number 14 is something special and worth celebrating. I would like to congratulate the Swaziland Premier League Executive Committee and the Board of Governors, the National Football Association of Swaziland and the entire Swazi nation for this awesome achievement.

MOVING FORWARD

I strongly believe that the PLS Brand can be among the top 10 in Africa with, of course, the right attitude, hard work and teamwork.  A lot of work has been done to put us where we are today and so much needs to be done to achieve even more. I believe there are four men who can take the league to greater heights, I call them them our secret agents of change. These are Victor ‘Maradona’ Gamedze, Bheki ‘Rubber’ Simelane, Mduduzi ‘Tsotsi’ Mabila and Mike Carmichael. These men are leading the top teams in the country and it is the top teams that can change the face of our football.
These men have done tremendously well for our football thus far but they can still do more. The PLS is talking about attaining Vision 2022, that vision needs these men to scrutinise and implement it to the benefit of our football.
The country itself is talking about 2022 where it is believed we would have attained First World status, I believe the PLS can be rated among the top 10 in 2022 but our four agents of change must change too. They need to change their mindset. It is very impossible for a citizen of a First World country  to think like a Third World citizen but it is possible for a citizen of a Third World country to think like a First World citizen. Our four secret agents are Third World citizens but they can think like First World citizens.
When I look at our neighbours, the Absa Premiership, I see two men our secret agents need to emulate. These are Dr Irvin Khoza and Kaizer Motaung, I believe they think alike. They share the same sponsors like Vodacom, Carling Black Label and Standard Bank. If it calls for our teams to share sponsors so let it be; that will improve the standard of the game in our country. Sponsors want mileage and in these four teams, that they can get.
In the Absa Premiership teams like Ajax Cape Town and Bloemfontein Celtic used to share the same sponsor, MTN. With the right sponsorship the four teams can be competitive and when they are, our national team benefits. The fact that Gamedze dines with the likes of Khoza is an ‘Ace’ for us, he can be able to open closed doors. When you look at what Sundowns have achieved under Carmichael, it shows that if the four men can work together, a lot can be achieved.
TRAINING GROUNDS

I believe that when our secret agents of change come together they can convince the Manzini and Mbabane Municipalities to adopt teams like Mbabane Swallows, Mbabane Highlanders and Manzini Wanderers as their own. It does not make sense for Swallows and Mbabane Highlanders not to train at the Prince of Wales. Likewise with Manzini Wanderers, there is no need for them to pay to train at the Trade Fair. Look at Polokwane City in the Absa Premiership, the city of Polokwane supports the team even by using the Peter Mokaba Stadium for training. This is one thing the four men can address with the relevant people.

PLAYERS

We need these teams to strive to export players to South Africa; currently we have only three players playing in South Africa, if my memory serves me well. This will also help our national team. It does not make sense that we are number 14 in Africa yet our National team is nowhere near that.

TEAM NEWS

On Friday night we played Malanti Chiefs at Somhlolo National Stadium. The team needs your support like you did in our last match. The players are ready to fight for the three points, except for Lungelo Tsabedze who is still nursing an injury and the three prodigal sons. We would like to congratulate the newly-elected Matsapha Supporters Committee.  The National Supporters Committee will be visiting all our branches to revive the spirit. The team’s merchandise is available and we are all expected to buy it as this goes a long way in helping the team financially.


May the Heavens smile upon you.

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