PLE MOURNS EX-CHAIRMAN VELI

MBABANE – The cruel hands of death have struck local football once again.

This follows the demise of former Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Chairman and Umbelebele Football Club Board of Governors member Velebandla ‘Veli’ Dlamini. The late Veli served the Msunduza-based side for over three decades as he joined Inkiliva around 1979, and he was part of the team that won the then Top Lotto Cup. He was also at the helm when they lost 0-1 to Mbabane Highlanders in the finals of the EswatiniBank Cup in 2010; he left the now Hhohho Regional Super League outfit in 2012.

‘Veli’, as he was fondly known in local football, also served as the PLE Chairman in 2007 before he was replaced by former elite league side XI Men in Flight boss Moses ‘Mkhulu’ Motsa in 2008. The death of Veli comes a few months after the demise of another top football administrator in erstwhile Eswatini Football Association (EFA) President Patrick Kunene.

Statement

The PLE, through the office of Brand and Marketing Manager, Lindelwa ‘Malindi’ Dlamini, issued a condolences statement on the passing of Veli.
“The Premier League of Eswatini family would like to extend her sincere condolences on the passing of its former PLE Chairman and Umbelebele Football Club Board of Governors Member Velebandla Dlamini,” reads the statement. Meanwhile, Inkiliva Captain Celani Dlamini said they were saddened by the passing of Veli, as he was one of the administrators who worked diligently for the team.

“When I arrived at Umbelebele I found Veli here and he was of great help to the team even after he left. We are deeply saddened about his passing,” the former skipper said. He, on behalf of the club, passed his sincere condolences to the Dlamini family as well as the football fraternity in the country for the loss. On the other hand, the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) also passed its sincere condolences on the untimely demise of Veli through a press release which was sent through the Times of Eswatini Sports Desk yesterday afternoon.

“The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) and the entire football household in Eswatini have learnt with great shock about the untimely demise of Velebandla Dlamini who was popularly known as Veli Dlamini,” reads an extract from the statement. The EFA statement said Veli was a passionate and hardworking football official who contributed immensely to the development of the game of football nationally at PLE and club football.

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