CEO SIMANGA LOSES PLE JOB!

EZULWINI – It’s a shocker! As of Friday night, Simanga Nhleko is no longer the Premier League of Eswatini’s (PLE) Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Hugely renowned as one top referees in the country’s football but put the whistle down for the PLE job last August, Nhleko saw his contract offer withdrawn by the organisation. This is after 11 months into the job. He was officially unveiled on September 11, 2018.

This took place in Ezulwini, Happy Valley Hotel and Casino during a meeting involving the full PLE Executive Committee and Nhleko. This was meant to be top secret until a press conference on Tuesday but their cars outside the hotel’s parking raised eyebrows that something was happening. Some members, including the Chairman Peter ‘Touch’ Magagula, Mashumi Shongwe were spotted leaving afterwards.

“He turned down the contract offer for a long while now and the PLE withdrew it as his counter-offer could not be met,” one Board of Governor from the elite teams who had already got the news claimed on condition of anonymity.

It was established that the PLE had offered him E32 000 as a monthly salary, which amounted to at least E25 000 after deductions. The duration of the contract was three years but Nhleko would not sign as he allegedly had his own terms including gratuity issues, among other things.
Magagula was sought for comment yesterday morning as he and some staff members at the PLE were reportedly in the office by then to ensure PLE Board of Governors were also made aware of the latest news.

“We had for months been hoping he would sign but given it’s been almost 12 months, we withdrew our contract offer and that means we’ve parted ways as we couldn’t reach an agreement. We met at Happy Valley on Friday but simply to withdraw our contract and let it be known to him.

“We had not expected it and looking at the fact that it was three years we offered, we wanted to work with him longer but there’s nothing we can as we can’t offer a person something we don’t have. He had his terms but we couldn’t meet them and the best thing for us was to withdraw the contract,” he explained when also asked about Nhleko’s terms.
salary offer
Magagula said they gave Nhleko the best they could and ‘no PLE CEO has ever got this package before’ but it was unfortunate things did not work out when asked about his salary offer.
“As an organisation we have to go forward but we’re yet to meet as we had not expected this instead we had hoped the signing would take place,” he responded and added that BOGs were also notified through emails sent to them yesterday.
When Magagula was also questioned on the allegations that door locks were changed, at the PLE offices from main door he neither denied nor confirmed it. Meanwhile, upon a visit to the office, Magagula had already left while his staff was also found leaving and did not want to be involved in the matter when questioned which locks were changed instead said only the chairman knew better. Nhleko was also reached on the latest developments.
“No comment. Talk to the Chairman,” he said.
Pressed on the issue, he insisted on not saying anything but rather preferred it coming from the PLE. Nhleko took over after the departure of John Mazibuko who had also come after Nqobile Magagula, now with Eswatini Telecom. Then referee and CAF Instructor Zwelonke ‘Sport’ Dlamini had preceded all three CEOs.
It is anticipated that the office’s Chief Operations Officer (COO) Pat Vilakati will be responsible for handling the office duties as the Executive Committee consults on next move.

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