Moorosi Tsiane
THE annual Econet Premier League player’s awards will only be held after the arbitration board settles Matlama’s protest against the Lesotho Football Association’s decision to crown Bantu the 2019/20 champions.
Premier League Management Committee (PLCM) spokesperson Moeketsi Ramakatsa told the Lesotho Times this week that the awards would only be held after the matter has been settled.
The PLMC’s elections, that were meant to be held at the end of the 2019/20 season, are also being delayed by the case.
LeFA decided to crown Bantu champions in July this year after deciding to end the soccer season. Matlama, who were second in the Econet Premier League and outgoing champions launched a protest to the Disputes and Protests Committee (DISPROCO) saying LeFA’s decision was in contravention of the constitution.
DISPROCO threw out the matter and Matlama approached the appeal board which also dismissed the case. However, Matlama has now approached arbitration board.
The protracted case has also derailed the PLMC’s elections at the end of the 2019/20 season.
Ramakatsa said nominees for the new positions have already been compiled and they are now only awaiting the finalisation of the case before announcing the nominees and the dates.
“We have the list of nominees but we can’t release them before the finalisation of the Matlama case because we don’t know what the ruling will be,” Ramakatsa said.
“It is inconveniencing us… our teams should be preparing for the new season now and they can’t even get their prizes because of the delays.”
Ramakatsa said they are in support of LeFA’s decision to end the league especially because it was their recommendation.
“The PLMC and the teams made the recommendation to end the league prematurely but at the same time, Matlama are exercising their democratic right, so there is really nothing that we can do. We must wait until everything is concluded then we will compile our reports and end the season,” Ramakatsa said.
