Times Of Swaziland: ANXIETY AT MBABANE SWALLOWS AS: 4 STARS SET TO JOIN NSINGIZINI

ANXIETY AT MBABANE SWALLOWS AS: 4 STARS SET TO JOIN NSINGIZINI
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Mengameli Mabuza on 23/12/2024 08:36:00


MBABANE – Nsingizini Hotspurs are reportedly keen to strengthen their squad by
acquiring four players from Mbabane Swallows ahead of the January registration
period.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Alexio Sigion, the team has allegedly
identified four potential recruits from Umkhonto KaShaka: Kwakhe ‘Stopper’
Thwala, Bongi ‘Karas’ Magagula, Siyabonga ‘Gusheshe’ Zwane and Newman
Philiso. According to an insider from one of the teams, these players have been
pinpointed by the ‘Insingizi YeZulu’ technical team as part of Nsingizini
Hotspurs’ strategy to enhance their domestic performance.
“Nsingizini Hotspurs are genuinely interested in signing the three players,
and the technical team understands the imperative of returning to competitive
domestic football. The players are believed to be a perfect fit to bolster the
already talented squad,” the source disclosed.  The insider revealed that
members of the technical bench communicated their interest to the targeted
players following a recent league match between the two teams at the Mavuso
Sports Centre. The club has recently faced challenges, with players demanding
payment for outstanding salaries that have been overdue for over two months,
underscoring the importance of financial stability for athletes with short
career spans. “These factors could play a crucial role in persuading these
players to join Nsingizini and secure a more stable future,” the source added.
An impeccable source within the ranks of Mbabane Swallows has reported that the
highly sought-after attacking winger ‘Karas’ has expressed, through a
written letter, his intention to leave the club in January, unless his salary
payments are resolved promptly. “As we prepared for the final league game of
the year against Sisonkhe, Bongi Magagula sent a letter to the club, stating
that he would no longer participate as a player if his salary was not paid
before December,” the source shared. When asked to confirm whether Nsingizini
Hotspurs were pursuing players from Mbabane Swallows, Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) Banele Ngobe firmly stated that they were yet to identify any players for
acquisition during the January transfer window.
“We will receive recommendations from our Sporting Director Simon Ngomane in
January regarding players he has identified for the club, and we will await his
guidance,” he commented. Upon further enquiry about the quality of the players
under consideration, Ngobe chose to withhold additional information, emphasising
that it would be inappropriate and unprofessional to discuss players currently
under contract with other teams.
In response to reports of potential player transfers between Swallows and
Nsingizini Hotspurs, MC Chairman Welile Mabuza categorically stated that no
formal or informal discussions have taken place between the two clubs. Mabuza
further asserted that the players in question are not available for sale, as
they remain bound by valid contracts with the club. According to FIFA
regulations, a player still under contract is prohibited from directly engaging
with other clubs regarding a potential transfer, ensuring that clubs maintain
their exclusive rights over contracted players and preventing any form of
clandestine negotiations.
FIFA rules do allow a player to enter into a pre-contract agreement with another
club if less than six months remain on their current contract. A pre-contract
serves as an agreement between a player and a prospective new club, allowing the
player to join the new club once their current contract expires. This provision
enables players to explore new opportunities while respecting the terms of their
current contract. However, the pre-contract does not grant the player the
ability to switch clubs until their existing contract has concluded, ensuring
their obligations to their current team are fulfilled.
However, the situation may differ for Swallows, as per the International
Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Articles 12bis and 14 about
non-payment of a player’s salary or other dues within a specified period,
typically 30-60 days, or repeated failures to pay wages could be deemed a breach
of contract, with potentially severe repercussions for both the player and the
club involved. This could mean that Swallows risk losing their players during
the January registration period if they fail to resolve their financial issues. 
Should Nsingizini succeed in securing the targeted players, they would join
former Swallows player Neliswa ‘Tiger’ Dlamini, who joined the club at the
start of the season after previously rejecting an offer from his former team.
Outside the country’s borders, a similar situation unfolded in 2017 when six
Moroccan players from Ittihad Tangier reportedly departed en masse due to months
of unpaid wages. In a statement to the press, the players expressed
dissatisfaction with the club’s failure to meet its financial obligations,
stating that they had been compelled to take drastic measures to support
themselves and their families. The departure of these players significantly
impacted the team’s performance and standings, highlighting the critical
importance of fair and timely compensation for professional athletes.