A Swaziland (eSwatini) soccer squad has been expelled from an international tournament for cheating.
The Under-17s were thrown out of the COSAFA [Council of Southern Africa Football Associations] tournament in Port Elizabeth, South Africa for including at least one overaged player. It was one of four nations expelled for the same reason. Players were exposed after a sophisticated medical test was undertaken.
Harries Bulunga, Minister of Sport, Culture and Youth Affairs, in a statement said, ‘The Ministry takes this moment to apologise to all Emaswati [people of Swaziland] for the huge embarrassment that this matter has brought to the country.’
Bulunga said the Swazi Government ‘strongly condemns any form of cheating’ in sport and added the eSwatini Football Association intended to appeal the decision. ‘The Ministry will swiftly ensure that, if the guilty verdict is upheld, those responsible are brought to book as per existing sporting policies.’
If the expulsion is confirmed Swaziland will miss the next two Africa Under-17 Cup of Nations, and by consequence the next FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
See also
Public sector corruption in Swaziland getting worse, Transparency International report suggests
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/01/public-sector-corruption-in-swaziland.html
New drive against corruption in Swaziland leaves out King Mswati, the biggest drain on the public purse
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/11/new-drive-against-corruption-in.html
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