Times Of Swaziland: NO PRIZE MONEY IN MKHIWENI PROMOTION LEAGUE

NO PRIZE MONEY IN MKHIWENI PROMOTION LEAGUE
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Melusi Mkhabela on 29/09/2024 15:07:00


MBABANE – According to a source within the Mkhiweni community, the promotion
league has been left in limbo, as sponsorship prize money is nowhere to be
found.
This comes after the league concluded last season without any incentives for the
league winners, which has caused the withdrawal of a few teams coming into the
2024/25 season.
Vusi Mkhonta, a community member of Mkhiweni, as well as Manzini Regional
Football Association (MRFA) executive member mentioned that this comes after
promises that were made during the recent elective period, were not fulfilled.
Mkhonta went on to cite that the then aspiring Mkhiweni Member of Parliament
(MP), Machawe Mavuso, approached Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games
Association (EOCGA) President, Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa to possibly assist in
his campaign for office.
“When campaigning, it is a norm for candidates to promise certain incentives
to their community in bid to get into office, which I think is the case here,”
revealed Mkhonta.
He went on to mention that Mavuso approached Mthethwa on a mutually-beneficial
partnership, where Mthethwa was alleged to assist in sponsoring the league,
through a promise made by Mavuso, who hoped to be voted into office.
Recalled
Furthermore, Mkhonta alleged that in the sponsorship launch which was held at
Luve, it was mentioned that the Mkhiweni Promotion League would be sponsored to
the tune of E40 000. Mkhonta cited that the Mkhiweni Promotion League played to
its conclusion and what was needed for the prize presentation was communicated
to both Mavuso and Mthethwa. “Coming to the presentation of the league prizes,
they both disappeared. When I called Mthethwa, he said he was still waiting for
Machawe to communicate. But when I contacted Machawe, he said the person who
disappeared was ‘Bomber’,” revealed Mkhonta.
Highlighted
He also highlighted that he was unsure of what could have caused the
disappearance from both Mavuso and Mthethwa, but cited that the funds never got
to Mavuso. On the other hand, when reached for comment, Mavuso preferred not to
say much besides highlighting that the person to contact on the matter was
Mthethwa. Meanwhile, the EOCGA president attested to supporting Mavuso during
his campaign for parliament, where he stated that part of the support entailed
the league prize presentation funds. He also outlined that the partnership was
purely on supporting Mavuso, citing that it was not necessarily directed to the
league.
Mthethwa mentioned that he notified Mavuso that he should let him know when the
league was almost complete; precisely a two-week window would have sufficed as
per Mthethwa’s remarks. “I called Machawe to ask what is happening, as I’m
getting calls regarding the league sponsorship, when we are doing the
presentation and Machawe said I will tell you president,” said Mthethwa. He
also revealed that the last time he spoke to Mavuso as well as a member of the
MRFA was about two weeks ago, where Mthethwa cited that Mavuso revealed his
reason for the delay, which he could not disclose to this publication.
The EOCGA president went on to highlight that this is still an ongoing matter
between the MRFA and Mavuso. Mthethwa also revealed that his agreement with
Machawe was not conditional to him winning or losing the seat in parliament,
which means the league was still entitled to the promise that was made to them,
hence it is still an ongoing issue.“I will have a meeting with Machawe and the
MRFA to indicate to us what to do next,” said Mthethwa. Moreover, the MRFA
Chairman, Vusi Hall was contacted by this publication on the same matter as the
Mkhiweni Promotion League is affiliated to the MRFA.
However, the chairman’s phone rang unanswered, Hall was going to be quizzed on
the authenticity of the allegations made by the aggrieved Mkhiweni community
members, entailing the prize presentation. He was also going to be asked about
possible solutions to curb such happenings from becoming recurring issues at a
community level and ultimately the regional level as well. Meanwhile, Mkhonta
revealed that this season has seen two teams withdraw from the league, which
currently has 19 teams registered. The total number of projected teams for this
season was expected to be 21; however, the withdrawal of the two teams has
reduced them to 19.