I WAS TAKEN FOR A RIDE – BISHOP LUKHELE

MBABANE – Former Mbabane Swallows President Archbishop Bheki Lukhele has cited lack of transparency as a key reason for his departure from the club.
In a revealing interview on the Eswatini Broadcasting Information Services (EBIS) Sports Show, hosted by Siphesihle ‘Sihlabane’ Nxumalo, Lukhele shed light on the circumstances that led to his decision to step down from his position. Despite his deep attachment to the club, Lukhele described his departure as an emotionally-difficult decision. Lukhele explained that the club’s lack of transparency was a significant factor in his decision, particularly the failure to disclose additional costs beyond the player salaries he had been made aware of before accepting the position.

“I was only told that I would be paying the players’ salaries only which I knew would be the burden I was going to carry and my budget was based on salaries. So having to do the other things like buying a soccer kit and other things made the burden heavily on me but I continued to be in the club,” he added. When questioned about the challenges he faced during his tenure as President, Lukhele cited the opaque decision-making processes and financial dealings within the organisation as the primary reason for his resignation.“We would agree on certain things in meetings but behind my back it was totally different,” he added.

Lukhele also revealed that prior to taking over the reins as President, he had been forewarned about the significant costs associated with managing a football club by Prince Lungile.
Furthermore, Lukhele was greatly disturbed by the sudden increase in rental fees for the club’s facilities, without any consultation or prior warning. The cost of the clubhouse had been elevated from E15 000 to E25 000, while the office rent had spiked to E10 000, resulting in a significant increase in expenses that Lukhele was unaware of when he assumed his role as President. “I then realised that there was a problem and by that time there were no kits, balls, and I had to start afresh in the team,” he said. Lukhele joined Swallows in the 2018/19 season as their leader after the demise of Victor Gamedze, a year earlier.
(More reports in tomorrow’s publication)

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