WANDERERS IN NEAR E1M SALARIES DEBT

MBABANE – Manzini Wanderers survived relegation but remain exposed to FIFA and CAF sanctions.

FIFA and CAF denote Federation of International Football Associations and CAF is Confederation of African Football. Wanderers are one team that could fail the FIFA and CAF Club Licensing test if it happens that any of their players or coaches file a complaint with the two football bodies. With CAF, Wanderers would not be allowed to play in their interclub tournaments, the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, as the organisation frowns upon teams when salaries, signing-on fees and any agreed fees are not paid to personnel. FIFA also frowns upon such and already, clubs like Moneni Pirates and Mbabane Swallows have parted with nearly E200 000 combined and if they had not paid the money to the concerned players, they faced a ban from the top flight.

Wanderers have a huge bill that has gone unattended to for months as players and coaches were unpaid for almost the entire season. The wage bill at Wanderers was confirmed to be at E130 000 monthly. The hub giants, who struggled and had to fight relegation throughout the season and eventually survived about three games before the MTN Premier League 2022/23 curtain closed, lost their South African Director Cedric Mashile Mathatha early in the season, which resumed last October. The festive season was dull for the players at Wanderers alongside their coaches including Terisayi Changara as they were not getting salaries by then. Adding up the months from last November to last month, E130 000 totals E910 000, nearly E1 million. However, most players’ contracts have since lapsed.

It took the team’s officials, like their Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Governor in Lawyer Bongani ‘Bhanyaza’ Mdluli, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Diana Johnson, renowned as Girlie and the Management Committee led by club legend Berger ‘Hotline’ Nxumalo to save the club’s blushes as they sacrificed from their own pockets and also got assistance from other parties to avoid relegation. They even took the team out for a team-building get-together involving their legends like William ‘Cool Cat’ Shongwe, among others, for motivational purposes.

brought back veteran

The masterstroke was when they relieved coach Terisayi and brought back veteran Nyanga ‘Crooks’ Hlophe, who has the knack to get the best of players even under harsh circumstances.
One of the players shared their experience of playing without a salary. “The issue with Wanderers is money and they were even dishonest about it as they make promises to pay but then fail. I’m one who was told so but to date I got nothing. I wouldn’t make the same mistake again honestly and I’m not growing any younger. I can’t play for free anymore and it’s going to affect my performance too when there is no motivation to feed my family,” the player said on condition of anonymity. In response to the unpaid salaries bill, Johnson said they were aware about the matter. “We are aware that players are owed money in the club after the previous director left. The team is working on the way forward regarding the issue,” she said.

It remains to be seen if the maroon and white LiWeseli will be able to resolve its financial struggles and retain most of their players who are reportedly without contracts. At least 155 players out of about 25 have lapsed contracts and are owed salaries. LiWeseli expects to resume their preseason training early on June 10 which is next Saturday.  It is anticipated other teams like Bible Society Cup 2022 champions Mbabane Highlanders will also start soon as the preseason tournament is expected back. It usually plays around July before the official season kicks off, this time in August it is anticipated as opposed to October.
(Additional information by Chris Dlamini)

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