THE UNEXPECTED ALWAYS HAPPENS, AS: ‘BIRDS’ IN OWUSU CONTRACT DILEMMA

MBABANE – Mbabane Swallows are stuck between a rock and a hard place regarding midfielder Emmanuel Owusu.

Late last month, this publication reported that Swallows terminated the contract of the former Mbabane Highlanders midfielder, before he could feature for the side in the MTN Premier League, due to a reported injury. The player is said to have refused to sign the termination letter until certain demands were met. This leaves Swallows in a dilemma, as new signee Seidou ‘Keita’ Blandja cannot feature for them until Owusu is deregistered. Swallows need space for Blandja, as only five foreign players are permitted in the league.

Termination

“Before he can agree to the termination, the player wants a three-month salary paid as a lump sum. The team had negotiated for paying in instalments but the player refused,” alleged an impeccable source. Apparently, the player is ready to go, as long as his financial obligations are met. It is believed that the player earns E10 000 per month, which amounts to E30 000 for a three-month period.  According to the information received, the team was prepared to pay E20 000 upfront, with the remaining E10 000 to be paid the following month. “The player has categorically stated that he is not signing anything until he gets the full payout,” shared the source.

Joined

Owusu joined Swallows from Highlanders on a one-year deal back in June. Prior to his contract termination, the versatile midfielder  had made his official debut for Mbabane Swallows during the Mpumalanga Premier’s International Cup, but subsequently found himself sidelined by injuries, preventing him from participating in key fixtures such as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League matches against Clube Ferroviário da Beira and Mamelodi Sundowns. These setbacks proved to be a significant blow for the player and the club, as Owusu’s absence on the pitch was felt throughout the early stages of the season. A chronic knee injury that refuses to heal is said to be the reason for his premature exit.
He has repeatedly refused to comment on the issue when sought for comment by this publication.

Meanwhile, the latest developments have kept the returning Blandja on ice. Known for his versatility on the field, Blandja deserves no introduction to the Swallows faithful. He has signed a one-year renewal deal with the current 2024/2025 league champions. The deal was reportedly finalised towards the end of the past month. The player is waiting for the Owusu issue to be finalised before he can catch a flight to Eswatini. ‘Keita’ had joined the 2023/24 MTN Premier League champions during the 2020/21 season,  signing from then Premier League side Mhlume Peacemakers and left the club to join Namungo FC in the Tanzanian Premier League, in a deal facilitated by Eswatini FIFA-accredited agent Dingane Maduma.

The versatile Togolese player left the Caleb ‘No Nonsense’ Ngwenya side, after not renewing his contract at the beginning of the 2021/22 season, along with box-to-box midfielder Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu, who joined Green Mamba.Swallows Public Relations Officer (PRO) Knowledge Ngwenya referred comments to Management Committee Chairman Welile Mabuza, who could not be drawn for comment by 6:10pm yesterday. His phone rang unanswered, while he was yet to reply to WhatsApp texts.

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