THE historic first official match between Swaziland and Bafana Bafana where caps will be awarded to players is definitely on, the Swaziland Football Association insisted yesterday.
Reacting to a call by SA trade union federation Cosatu to have the match in Mbabane on November 15 cancelled, the Swazi FA said they were finalising preparations for the game.
Cosatu argues that King Mswati is denying Swazis their democratic rights by banning political parties and refusing to recognise the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland.
"The entity you are mentioning is irrelevant and we are a football association," said Swazi FA president Adam "Bomber" Mthethwa yesterday from Mbabane.
"It's a big game for us in Swaziland because we will be playing Bafana Bafana for the first time in an official game where caps will be awarded to players. All the other previous clashes between the two countries were warm-up games, no caps were awarded.
"So the game is definitely on and we expect a full house," said Mthethwa, who is also a member of parliament in Swaziland.
Cosatu has called on Safa not to send Bafana to Swaziland, but new president Danny Jordaan made it clear the game is on.
"We share the Cosatu sentiment, we will organise a meeting with them but it is too late for the game to be called off," said Jordaan.
Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven said their call was in line with the federation's strong support for the cultural boycott of "King Mswati III's brutal monarchist dictatorship".
Craven said the presence of South Africa's players in Mbabane will be hailed by Mswati's government as an endorsement of its legitimacy and policies.
Mswati is also accused by Cosatu of "continuing to loot state resources to feed himself and his rapacious criminal family".
"He uses force and fear to intimidate and subjugate the people of Swaziland. That is why the democratic forces in Swaziland have asked for a cultural boycott, similar to the sport and cultural boycott against apartheid South Africa," Craven said. "The aim of the boycott is to expose the true nature of the royal dictatorship."
Safa no to boycott
THE historic first official match between Swaziland and Bafana Bafana where caps will be awarded to players is definitely on, the Swaziland Football Association insisted yesterday.
Reacting to a call by SA trade union federation Cosatu to have the match in Mbabane on November 15 cancelled, the Swazi FA said they were finalising preparations for the game.
Cosatu argues that King Mswati is denying Swazis their democratic rights by banning political parties and refusing to recognise the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland.
"The entity you are mentioning is irrelevant and we are a football association," said Swazi FA president Adam "Bomber" Mthethwa yesterday from Mbabane.
"It's a big game for us in Swaziland because we will be playing Bafana Bafana for the first time in an official game where caps will be awarded to players. All the other previous clashes between the two countries were warm-up games, no caps were awarded.
"So the game is definitely on and we expect a full house," said Mthethwa, who is also a member of parliament in Swaziland.
Cosatu has called on Safa not to send Bafana to Swaziland, but new president Danny Jordaan made it clear the game is on.
"We share the Cosatu sentiment, we will organise a meeting with them but it is too late for the game to be called off," said Jordaan.
Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven said their call was in line with the federation's strong support for the cultural boycott of "King Mswati III's brutal monarchist dictatorship".
Craven said the presence of South Africa's players in Mbabane will be hailed by Mswati's government as an endorsement of its legitimacy and policies.
Mswati is also accused by Cosatu of "continuing to loot state resources to feed himself and his rapacious criminal family".
"He uses force and fear to intimidate and subjugate the people of Swaziland. That is why the democratic forces in Swaziland have asked for a cultural boycott, similar to the sport and cultural boycott against apartheid South Africa," Craven said. "The aim of the boycott is to expose the true nature of the royal dictatorship."
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos