Swallows mourn Jazz' Shongwe's death

MBABANE– Mbabane Swallows directors have mourned the death of their former general manager Joseph ‘Jazz’ Shongwe.

Swallows Managing Director Victor Gamedze described Shongwe as a ‘sweeper’ who cleaned the team when it needed drastic changes in 2002.

"We needed a general manager who would be brave enough to fire certain players in the team. Those players were very old, disrespectful and we wanted them out. Unfortunately the Management Committee (MC) of that time could not fire these players because they were friends with them and worshipped them. In fact the scenario of that time is the same as now, where we have players who are tired, old and need to be replaced but the MC cannot do anything about it, because they drink and are friends with the players.

"When we hired Jazz as the general manager at that time his mandate was to fire these players. Jazz was not afraid, he simply fired those players and Swallows fans were not happy with his decisions, but he had no problem with how the fans felt.

"It is so sad that Jazz had to depart from this world when Swallows is going through the same trouble as it experienced in 2002," he said.

Gamedze said ‘Jazz’ was bold, brave, a negotiator, a socialite who always made people happy.

"Swallows benefited a lot from Jazz’s work even after he left Swallows in 2003. He negotiated for the clearances of two players Kanu Nxumalo from Highlanders and Mgonodi Sidell (Moneni Pirates) and we ended up getting them for half their amount," he said.

Gamedze said football had lost a ‘prince of peace’. He said Shongwe had a few enemies than friends.

"He was very frank. He would criticise us as directors and we would be both be loving at his critics," he said.

Gamedze said he was short of words to comfort the Shongwe family at the loss of this humble servant. ‘Jazz’ will be buried tomorrow at Macetjeni.

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