BIRDS' OWNERSHIP TRANSITION PROMISES STABILITY

MBABANE – Clarity at last!

The Board of Directors holding shares at Mbabane Swallows (PTY) Limited have released a statement to clarify their position regarding the ownership of Mbabane Swallows Football Club, which they intend to assume at the end of the current season.

This follows a letter from the Chairman of Mbabane Swallows (PTY) Limited to the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE), demanding control and management of the team.

The letter, which is in this publication’s possession, states that Mbabane Swallows (PTY) Limited will take over the governance of the club from the association that has been managing it since 2018.

This decision is based on advice from the PLE that leadership or control of clubs is not permitted mid-season.

It also revealed that from 2016 to 2018, the football and related affairs of Mbabane Swallows Football Club were managed and controlled by the company as the team’s owner.

recognised

During that period, this position was recognised by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) and the PLE.

The Board has requested that the PLE rectify and align its official business and operations concerning Mbabane Swallows FC accordingly.

It is stated that Mbabane Swallows (PTY) Limited filed the relevant documents regarding the leadership and control of the club with the PLE prior to the departure of former Chairman Mark Carmichael and his executive committee (ExCo).

Chairman of the Board, Bongani Dlamini, disclosed that the holding shares at Mbabane Swallows (PTY) Limited have been appointed to assist the surviving spouse of the late Director of Mbabane Swallows, Victor Gamedze, Princess Lungile, in transferring Mbabane Swallows Football Club from the Gamedze estate to the club’s supporters.

“We are an interim board and shall hold shares on behalf of the supporters until all stakeholders decide how the club must be run as a company moving forward,” Dlamini said.

He emphasised that the board’s intention is not to disrupt the current management and sponsors, but rather to prepare in good time and ensure that the club is restored to its former glory.

“In siSwati, singena endlini kagogo (We are putting our house in order). No changes are to be implemented until the end of the season,” he said. Dlamini expressed the Board’s sincere gratitude to Bishop Bheki Lukhele, the sponsors, the consortium, the current management committee, the technical staff, the players and the supporters for their excellent work and support for the club.

generosity

“May they continue with such generosity and dedication while we put things in place in preparation for the upcoming season,” he added. The vice chairman stated that they will appoint a task team to conduct a fact-finding mission with all stakeholders of the club to ascertain the exact challenges faced by the club and obtain recommendations for resolving them.

“We need a lasting solution that will help minimise recurring problems and bring back the glory days at Mbabane Swallows, with the objective of conquering Africa again,” he said. He further stated that within a month, the task team will present a report, and work will begin on the recommendations gathered from that process in preparation for the new season.

“We request all stakeholders to work with us during this important transitional period, where we are transferring the team from the estate to the supporters. We have their best interests, and those of the club, at heart,” he concluded.
salaries

It is worth noting that the ownership dispute originated from players reporting the team to the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC) over alleged unpaid salaries. The team was summoned before the commission, and Absalom informed them that they lacked the funds to pay the players’ salaries.

He was then quoted as saying they would hand the team back to Princess Lungile. The handover was held at the Thokoza Church Centre, but the princess’s faction declined to accept the team, citing over E2 million in debts as the primary obstacle to ownership.

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