IT promises to be an intriguing five-horse race for the two coveted vice president seats in the Eswatini Football Association (EFA).
EFA affiliates have officially submitted their nominations for candidates to serve on the executive committee ahead of the eagerly anticipated elective general assembly set for August 17.
Among the five candidates vying for the two vice president positions are current EFA Vice president Steve Horton and former vice president Timothy ‘Tim’ Shongwe, who presently serves as COSAFA Competitions Committee Chairman. Also in the running are former vice president and outgoing Lubombo Regional Football Association Chairman Nichodemus ‘Ace’ Mashwama, long-serving Hhohho Regional Football Association Secretary General Nkosingiphile Shongwe and former Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Chief Executive Officer Simanga Nhleko.
As exclusively revealed by the Eswatini Observer Sports Desk yesterday, the presidency battle has shaped into a two-horse race between the incumbent Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane and Vice Pesident Mashumi Shongwe.
For the executive member posts, a long list of nominees has been put forward, including the Eswatini Football Coaches Association duo of Musa Mamba and Aaron ‘Katalala’ Mavimbela, PLE executive committee member Sibusiso ‘Scorpion’ Nxumalo and former PLE chairman Peter ‘Touch’ Magagula, among others.
All nominees are subject to vetting by the independent EFA Electoral Committee in the run-up to election day.
Under the amended EFA Statutes, eligibility criteria are outlined in Article 38. Article 38.6 (b) stipulates that any candidate for the executive committee must have served in the executive committee of a member association of EFA for a continuous period of at least four years. Article 38.6 (d) adds that hopefuls must possess experience in football or sports administration and be at least 18 years old.
Furthermore, Article 38.7 specifies that only candidates who have served on the EFA Executive Committee for a minimum of four years are eligible to stand for the presidency. This provision renders incumbent President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane and Vice President Mashumi Shongwe eligible for the country’s top football post.
Nominations were submitted by EFA affiliates, which include the Premier League of Eswatini, Eswatini Football Coaches Association, Eswatini Referees Association, Women Football Association, and the four regional associations – Hhohho, Manzini, Shiselweni, and Lubombo Regional Football Associations.
As per the EFA Executive Committee structure, the committee comprises 12 members: the president, three vice presidents (two elected and one automatically being the PLE chairman), seven members (two elected, while the rest are chairpersons of the four regional associations and the Women Football Association), and one elected woman executive member.
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