Moorosi Tsiane
THE Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) has made it clear that it has no intention of continuing with the league and want it ended in its current state.
Immediately after the PLMC announced its stance, teams started off-loading players they felt were not needed next season.
I honestly don’t blame the teams for offloading some players because ever since the league was halted, teams have been struggling to come up with any revenue as they normally depend on gate takings from matches.
They had no other option for them but to release the players to avoid huge bills which they won’t be able to afford.
While I also believe that teams were within their rights to act as such, I also feel this is bad for players who are going to be jobless.
The PLMC still does not know when the next season will start and teams are also cautious in signing players because they wouldn’t want to sign players and pay them while there is no league action.
The PLMC has submitted its recommendations to the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) regarding what they want to happen but the football mother body is yet to decide the way forward.
However, I believe that the two bodies should reach a conclusion and end this confusion so that all the stakeholders can know the way forward before starting preparations.
I really feel for players who are going to be “club less” and won’t be getting any income for this period until the future of football has been decided. Some teams had already cut their salaries due to financial knocks since March this year when league action was stopped.
Not only are players are going to be affected financially but also, the long wait without proper trainings and competitions is going to impact negatively on their performances when football returns.
Likuena coach Thabo Senong had already expressed his concerns over the same issue and hopefully, LeFA and PLMC will reach an agreement in time so that preparations can start in earnest.
I am aware of the cost implication of restarting soccer given the prevailing Covid-19 situation. This is why the PLMC decided that it was better that the league be ended.
However, LeFA will soon be receiving relief fund packages from FIFA and CAF amounting to M35 million and I believe part of that money can be used to help the teams return to action for the sake of the national team which has a tough AFCON qualifiers fixtures against Benin, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
The three sides have significant numbers of players plying their trade in Europe where leagues have resumed.
While the PLMC and LeFA are busy showing each other their muscles, they must be alive to the consequences of their actions. The bigger picture is much more important.
Analysts have said proper consultations should be done to inform whatever decision will be made for the sake of progress and they are right. Unity of purpose must prevail.
