Times Of Swaziland: HIGHLANDERS NOT FOR SALE HIGHLANDERS NOT FOR SALE ================================================================================ Sports Reporters on 01/02/2025 08:58:00 MBABANE – Former Mbabane Highlanders co-director, Marwick ‘Days and Weeks’ Khumalo, has clarified the club’s governance structure, stating that the team is not for sale. The Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament (MP) held a senior leadership position at the club from the 2016/17 to the 2018/19 season, succeeded by South African Managing Director (MD), Chief Ally Kgomongwe. This leadership team included Zweli Jele as Chairman and Musa Masuku as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). They took the baton from the recently appointed MD, Bheki ‘Rubber’ Simelane. Speaking on the Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS) Sports Show yesterday, Khumalo spoke as a bona fide supporter of the team, but not under the badge of being a patron. “Highlanders aren’t for sale; first and foremost, you can’t say it belongs to a certain individual. The directors are almost like us who are elected to represent the people in parliament, serve for a certain period and leave for others to take over. If you say you have bought it, who’d you say you’ve bought? Is it the players, supporters or the patrons?” Khumalo wondered. The politician further said the club belongs to the nation and highlighted that ‘Rubber’s return to the helm does not signify a change in ownership. The MP said it does not mean that the team has been sold to him, but comes in to take the club forward as he is also a ‘Bull’ legend. He urged supporters to introspect, acknowledging that the club’s recent history has not been positive. “We must all take responsibility for the club’s current situation and work together to improve its fortunes,” he added. Terminated Last month, Highlanders terminated the contract of MD Kgomongwe after three months of internal strife. The South African businessman had run the club as a company since 2021, holding an 80 per cent stake. He arrived at the team during the 2019/20 season. Meanwhile, the patrons and fans each held a 10 per cent shares. This week, the patrons successfully reinstated ‘Rubber’ as MD, but still had to tie up some loose ends on paperwork before he is officially unveiled. Meanwhile, Kgomongwe said he did not like to respond to Khumalo, but has to clarify matters. Firstly, he advised Khumalo to consult the club’s patrons regarding how he became the first legal director of the club. The South African politician said the patrons were aware of the agreement reached to transform the team into a company. He emphasised the shareholding structure of the company and described ‘Rubber’ as the legal caretaker of the team during his absence. He also highlighted that upon his arrival, he found the team burdened with debt at the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE), an amount of which he preferred not to disclose. He said he cleared it and further made major investments in the team, achieving success with silverware and a return to African interclub competitions. It is worth noting that the patrons reiterated the club’s compliance with the provisions of the Companies Act regarding its incorporation when terminating his contract. The matter was escalated to the Registrar of Companies, and patrons revoked the assignment of shares previously granted to him, allegedly on a trusteeship basis. However, through a press statement dated September 17, 2021, by Patron Benson Dlamini, Highlanders informed their supporters that the team was going to be registered as a company. It was said this was to help him work better and take the club to the next level. Furthermore, Khumalo also expressed concern over the high fines imposed on clubs, particularly considering their limited revenue streams. He urged the PLE to address this issue and urged them to save the beleaguered Manzini hub giants, Wanderers. Admitted He admitted that their matter is currently in court. However, Khumalo said Wanderers are a well-supported club. One of the most high-profile cases of a power struggle within a football club in Europe was the epic battle for control of Manchester United in the early 2000s. The club’s American owners, Malcolm Glazer and his family had acquired a majority stake in United, sparking fierce opposition from fans, who feared that the Glazers would saddle the club with debt and prioritise profits over on-field success. The saga at the Red Devils dragged on for years, with fans staging protests, forming breakaway clubs, and even attempting to purchase shares in the club. Eventually, the Glazers softened their stance, appointing fan-favourite Alex Ferguson as a director and investing in new players and facilities. Meanwhile, FIFA’s stance on club ownership is outlined in their statutes and regulations, which require clubs to operate independently from third-party influences. However, FIFA acknowledges the importance of supporter involvement in club governance and encourages clubs to engage with their fan base.