AFTER EMERGENCY MEETING AT MADLENYA HOUSE: AFTER EMERGENCY MEETING AT MADLENYA HOUSE: CONFUSION OVER ‘BIRDS’ OWNERSHIP

MBABANE – Former Mbabane Swallows’ director Princess Lungile has summoned team Governor Sandile ‘beyond 2000’ Zwane to address various issues surrounding the club.

The emergency meeting, purportedly organised to celebrate the handover of the 2023/24 MTN Premier League trophy to the princess after the Caleb Ngwenya-led team secured the championship, exposed several shocking revelations, including the fact that the club, known as Mbabane Swallows, was operating under two entities: Mbabane Swallows FC and Mbabane Swallows PTY (Ltd).

Comprehensive

“As the elders of this club, I believe it is important that you approach the team governor and request a comprehensive report on the current state of the club. We must demand clarity about its operations, including the specific entity under which the team is registered (either Mbabane Swallows FC or Mbabane Swallows PTY), the sources of funding for their upcoming CAF competition participation and the overall transparency of the club’s operations. Without this clarity, it will be difficult for the team to function efficiently and attract potential investors,” she said.

Princess Lungile, after inheriting the leadership of Swallows from her late husband, recalled that some club officials approached her to clarify that the team was not a company, but rather a football club. “After my late husband’s passing, I assumed leadership of Swallows. But then some club officials approached me, telling me that my husband had allegedly stolen the team. They told me that Swallows was not a company, but just a football club. This revelation shocked me and led me to be silent for quite some time. Even now, I’m still unsure who’s running the team. I assume it’s Sandile Zwane, since he’s been issuing statements about the CAF competition,” she said.

With the cloud of uncertainty hovering over the team’s leadership and operations, Princess Lungile expressed scepticism towards the team governor’s request for a meeting. The governor’s invitation was extended for the purposes of discussing CAF-related matters and presenting the MTN Premier League trophy. However, in light of the issues at hand, Princess Lungile questioned the governor’s motive and sincerity.

Emphasised

“I told the team governor that I was open to having a meeting, but I emphasised the importance of having other people present as witnesses. I thought this would be the best way to ensure transparency and prevent any misunderstandings. However, to my dismay, he refused to attend the meeting if anyone else was going to be present,” she stated. Princess Lungile disclosed that the club’s shares, which were an essential component of resolving the leadership confusion, had not yet been distributed.

“I’m not interested in assuming leadership of the team. My late husband had, however, suggested someone to fill this role. Additionally, I must stress that the purchase of the team as a company may not be a viable option, given the existing claims made by certain officials about its registration status. It is important to note that my late husband had been approached by the Swallows family to take over the team, after Bheki Simelane encountered some challenges,” she shared. Princess Lungile proceeded to disclose that her late husband had complied with the requests of the Swallows Elders, a gesture that was seemingly disregarded by the present leadership.

Intention

“It’s not my intention to hinder the team’s preparations in any way. The players have put in a lot of hard work and dedication, and it wouldn’t be fair to disturb that. I understand the importance of the season for them, and I want to ensure that their efforts are not in vain. While I strongly believe that these issues need to be addressed, I want to do so in a way that is respectful of the team and doesn’t negatively impact their performance,’’ she said. The princess made it clear that she would not be taking over the team’s leadership, but emphasised that her late husband had nominated a person to assume that role. The former chairperson further articulated her belief that football was not merely about playing games and entertaining fans, but also about caring for the people involved in the club. “Football is not just about the 90 minutes on the pitch; it’s also about taking care of the players, staff and supporters who make up the team,” she stated.

Meanwhile, the team’s Governor ‘Beyond 2000’ stated that the club was in the process of finalising all the necessary requirements for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) registration, including club licensing, among other formalities. Notably, the deadline was yesterday. “We wanted to present the trophy to Princess Lungile in a private ceremony in a bid to express our appreciation for all that she and her late husband have done for the team. However, we were informed that there would be others in attendance, so we decided not to proceed with our initial plan. We still intend to present the trophy to the princess, just as we did with the club president’s representative. It’s important for us to recognise her contributions and show our gratitude in the best way we can,” Zwane said.

Among the Swallows elders and officials present at the meeting were Enoch Nkosi,  Cyprian Ginindza, Mfanimpela Gwebu, and Felix ‘Fela’ Badenhorst, a well-known attacking midfielder for the team. Meanwhile, back in 2018, our sister publication, The Times SUNDAY, reported that the club was considered one of Gamedze’s many companies. That is according to the Swaziland (now Eswatini) Companies Act No. 8 of 2009. Gamedze gained sole ownership of the club on December 20, 2016.

A letter written by the Registrar General’s office informed the director of Mbabane Swallows Football Club (Proprietary) Limited has been registered and incorporated in terms of the Swaziland Companies Act No 8 of 2009 as of December 20, 2016 under certificate of Incorporation No. 2592 of 2016.

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