IN PETITION TO PREMIER LEAGUE: ‘BULL’ STARS DEMAND GATE COLLECTIONS 

MBABANE - Another day, fresh drama at Mbabane Highlanders.

Selected Highlanders players and supporters bewildered the staff of the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE), as they stormed the office to submit a petition, yesterday. They were led by National Supporters Committee (NSC) Representative Sizwe ‘Mpapane’ Ndlovu, Treasurer Sihle Magagula, Member John Dlamini  and former Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mandla Madonsela. Accompanying them were over 10 supporters and three players in defenders Vusi Vilakati and Ndumiso Mabuza, as well as forward Mpucuko ‘Smoothies’ Dlamini.

Upon their arrival, NSC Secretary Ndlovu informed PLE Brand and Marketing Manager Lindokuhle Mthupha, that they had come to present two petitions—one from the NSC and another from the players. After Ndlovu read the NSC petition, Mthupha explained that unfortunately, Acting PLE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pat Vilakati was in a meeting and unable to attend to them. However, she assured the supporters and players that the petitions would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities. NSC Secretary Ndlovu requested Mthupha to step outside Sigwaca House, so they could read both petitions in her presence, along with the supporters who had gathered outside.

Agreed

She agreed, and it was Madonsela who meticulously read the entire NSC petition, page by page, while John presented the players’ petition. All the supporters, PLE officials and media personnel observed closely, taking notes during the petition delivery. “We, as supporters of Mbabane Highlanders Football Club, respectfully submit this petition to express our grave concerns regarding the disappearance of Managing Director (MD) Ally and the subsequent hardships faced by our team,” read an excerpt from the NSC petition. The NSC asserted that this unaccounted absence of MD Kgomongwe has left dependents and players in dire straits, exacerbating their financial and emotional struggles.

The petition also highlighted that the team’s equipment, including the sprinter bus and match kits, have been removed or rendered inaccessible, jeopardising the team’s ability to participate in scheduled games. “Players are facing unpaid salaries and injured players have been neglected without adequate care. Basic necessities such as food and team kits are lacking, creating significant challenges for the team’s well-being and performance.” Madonsela remarked that the repossession of the sprinter bus and the freezing of foreign players’ cards have further undermined the team’s operations.

“Division within the technical team, delayed salaries and unpaid rent for club and player accommodation have created an unstable and unsustainable environment.” He expressed the deep disappointment felt among the team’s supporters due to the unceremonious removal of the acting CEO.  “We humbly implore the Premier League of Eswatini to urgently intervene and assist with the following matters: Locating the MD and facilitating a roundtable discussion to address the team’s pressing issues.”  The petition also requested that funds collected from gate receipts be directly allocated to the players’ salaries and team expenses, rather than being deposited into Kgomongwe’s account, while the team suffers.

Highlanders recently hosted Mbabane Swallows in the massive derby at Mavuso Sports Centre, this past weekend, and over 3 000 supporters were in attendance.Their share from the gate takings after administrative deductions could not be immediately ascertained. Moreover, they pointed out their belief that the Premier League, as the governing body of elite football in Eswatini, has a vested interest in ensuring the welfare of the teams and the integrity of the league.

Suffering

Meanwhile, the players, through a petition signed by 19 team members, expressed their alleged suffering in silence under the leadership of South African MD Kgomongwe. They alleged that under his tenure, their salaries have often been delayed or not paid at all. “A case in point is that, as we speak, we (the players) are owed a maximum of three months’ salaries and signing-on fees. It is for these reasons that your office is requested to consider withholding the gate collections from our director, as we were hoping to receive something from these collections to assist in our survival,”  alleged the players. The players asserted that the timely payment of salaries is a fundamental obligation of any employer for services rendered.

After submitting the two petitions to the PLE, the supporters proceeded directly to the Mbabane Police Station to report one of the team’s officials, whom they alleged was tampering with the FIFA Connect system, resulting in delays in issuing player cards that prevented the team from warming up on time.  An agitated group of supporters conveyed their frustrations to two police officers, Bheki Dlamini and Akhona Dludlu, explaining how the said official’s alleged actions almost resulted in the team’s inability to play. They expressed their desire not to take the law into their own hands, opting instead to report the matter to the police. The official cannot be named, as he has not been charged or appeared in court. Dlamini and Dludlu thanked the supporters for bringing the issue to their attention and assured them that it would be handled amicably, ensuring all parties involved would be satisfied.

Loyalty

Kgomongwe said the players indicated a lack of loyalty towards him by submitting a petition to the PLE. He also jumped to the defence of the official who is wanted out. On the gate takings, he said he learnt the team is entitled to E65 000, saying E40 000  should be given to Mbabane Swallows to service a Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze debt. “They can keep the balance after paying Swallows,” he said. As for a way forward, he suggested that patrons, supporters and players send three representatives to Pretoria for a round-table discussion to address the myriad of issues at hand.

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