BIRDS MC WITHHOLD SPRINTER, KIT

MBABANE – The Mbabane Swallows Management Committee (MC) made a decision to officially transfer ownership of the club to Princess Lungile, in a meeting held yesterday afternoon.
The handover ceremony, which took place at Thokoza Anglican Conference Centre, involved the new Board of Directors representing Princess Lungile, the outgoing Umkhonto KaShaka Management Committee, Sebenele Nhlengetfwa representing former Swallows President Bheki Lukhele and Swallows players Kwakhe Thwala and Kingsley Kwayki, who were there to represent the players. The chairperson of the meeting, Joel Nhleko, ensured that the proceedings ran smoothly. Delayed by nearly two hours from its scheduled starting time, the ownership transfer meeting between the former and current management of the Mbabane Swallows Football Club stretched on for over three hours, marked by a highly contentious and emotionally charged atmosphere. The deliberations were disrupted by an explosive exchange between Nhleko and Magwegwe Dlamini, leading to the Swallows manager storming out of the meeting in anger.

heated

Following the conclusion of the heated ownership transfer meeting, Swallows’ Acting President Absalom Ngwenya addressed the waiting media, confirming that the club’s management committee, led by Swallows Director Princess Lungile, had officially been granted ownership of the team. “We, the former management committee of the Mbabane Swallows Football Club, have officially handed the reins of the team over to Princess Lungile, the very person who has been seeking ownership of the club for a prolonged period. These past two weeks have been challenging for us as the players resorted to holding us ‘ransom’ with their plates, threatening not to go and play if their demands were not met. It is deeply disheartening that a former Swallows player was implicated in this, reportedly encouraging the current squad to rebel against us and boycott training,” he said.

Continuing his remarks, Ngwenya affirmed that the previous management committee will be retrieving the club’s assets, which include the 22-seater Mercedes Benz Sprinter bus, the clubhouse at Sandla, Mbabane, and the Primo kit. When questioned about the potential consequences of Swallows Governor Sandile ‘Beyond 2000’ Zwane’s recent co-opting into the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Executive Committee, while simultaneously needing to maintain his club affiliation to comply with the league’s constitution, Ngwenya reiterated that Zwane will need to align himself with the provisions of the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) constitution to retain his position within the league office. Sibusiso ‘Scorpion’ Nxumalo, formerly the Director of Mhlume Peacemakers, was also able to maintain his coveted seat in the PLE Executive Committee, despite Peacemakers’ relegation from the top tier.

Per the PLE Constitution, Nxumalo’s position became vacant following Peacemakers’ relegation, as stipulated in Article 29.1.5. However, recognising the value of his leadership and experience, Nxumalo was granted a grace period of 30 days to either step down or affiliate himself with another club in the Premier League. Through his efforts and networking, Nxumalo successfully secured an attachment to a club in the Premier League, thereby preserving his place in the PLE Executive Committee.

opinions

In his reflections on the proceedings, Mduduzi Hlophe, who served as Princess Lungile’s representative in the meeting, emphasised that diverse opinions are to be expected in any gathering, particularly one as significant as this ownership transfer. “As we embark on this new chapter in Mbabane Swallows Football Club’s history, there will undoubtedly be extensive negotiations and discussions surrounding various aspects of the team’s operations,” he said. Responding to Ngwenya’s statement about the club retrieving its assets, Hlophe suggested that the former management committee member might have spoken in the heat of the moment. He believed that the outgoing members are true Swallows supporters and, therefore, would not seek to deprive the club of its belongings. “I think that comment was made out of emotion,” he said. “We all know how much these people love the team and want what’s best for Swallows. I trust that they would not take anything from the club, as they are Swallows people at heart.”

While reluctant to take sides in the complex situation, Swallows assistant captain Kingsley Kwayki expressed his concern about the ongoing events and their impact on the team’s progress. “I don’t want to get too involved in the details, but I can say that this situation is causing issues for the team and needs to be resolved quickly for the sake of the club’s future,” he said. Nhlengetfwa, acting as a representative for the interests of former Swallows President Bheki Lukhele, indicated that his primary purpose in attending the meeting was to monitor proceedings and provide Lukhele with an accurate account of the discussions, particularly those concerning any assets that belong to him. “As we move forward with this transition, it is imperative that the outgoing management committee relinquishes all assets belonging to Bishop Lukhele, which I will not specify, as the committee is well aware of them and should act in accordance with the team’s best interests,” Nhlengetfwa stated.

In what seems to be a full circle moment, Princess Lungile has re-emerged as the new owner of Mbabane Swallows, five years after stepping down. During her previous tenure, which spanned from 2018 to 2019, she estimated that the club required a monthly budget of E400 000 for its operations. The footballing world has seen its fair share of turbulence when new leadership takes charge. One prime example can be found in the story of Valencia CF, a La Liga team from Spain that experienced a rollercoaster ride when its ownership changed hands in 2014. When Singaporean businessman Peter Lim, acquired a majority stake in Valencia CF, many fans initially held out hope that this new investment would usher in a bright future for the club.

challenging

The newly-appointed chairperson of ‘Umkhonto KaShaka’, tasked with guiding Mbabane Swallows FC into its next chapter, will face a challenging financial landscape upon assuming her position. The outgoing management committee, headed by Absalom Ngwenya, leaves behind a staggering debt of over E2 million, with the club’s monthly wage bill for players and officials reaching an estimated E250 000. The outgoing management comprises the likes of Absalom Ngwenya (Acting President), Sandile ‘Beyond 2000’ Zwane, Welile Mabuza (legal), Gcina Maseko, , Veli Malinga, Sandile Dlamini and Abraham Dlamini, among others.

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