MBABANE – Is the issuing of garnishee orders becoming the new norm in Eswatini football?
That is the question on everyone’s lips following yet another such order, this time directed at the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) by Sbu Classics. Sources suggest the company is demanding that EFA deducts monies owed to Mbabane Swallows by Confederation of African Football (CAF). Swallows are entitled to over E900 000 for participating in this past season’s CAF Champions League, where they were eliminated in the second round.
This latest order follows a string of similar actions. Manzini Wanderers, via their legal representative SM Jele, previously served the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) with a garnishee order for E371 000 against the league body. This was swiftly followed by another, also aimed at the PLE, demanding the deduction of E200 000 from monies owed to Manzini Wanderers by former Mbabane Swallows President, Bishop Bheki Lukhele.
Lukhele made his demand through his legal representatives, Dunseith Attorneys, after the ‘maroon and white hub giants’ allegedly breached an agreement they had with him during the 2022/23 MTN Premier League season concerning the payment of players’ salaries.
undisclosed
There are also allegations of another garnishee order issued by Wanderers against Moneni Pirates and Denver Sundowns for an undisclosed amount in court costs.
A source close to Sbu Classics reportedly revealed that, through a letter addressed to the EFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frederick Mngomezulu, they are seeking the local football mother body to deduct over E500 000. This sum relates to a loan Sbu Classics and Mbabane Swallows purportedly entered into before the recently-concluded TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, which was won by Egypt’s Pyramids.
“They borrowed the money to finance their participation in the Champions League and promised to repay it through the money they would receive from CAF,” the source stated.
A copy of the letter, in this publication’s possession, confirms that Sbu Classics has indeed instructed the EFA to make the deductions on their behalf to settle the outstanding amount. The letter states that Sbu Classics, through Dunseith Attorneys, confirms entering into a written loan agreement, wherein a total sum of E569 400 was advanced to Mbabane Swallows.
indebtedness
“We are further instructed by the client (Sbu Classics) that the club pledged the preliminary CAF games participation fee as surety for its indebtedness to the client,” part of the letter reads.
The letter further states that Dunseith Attorneys are instructed to enquire from the EFA about the availability of such monies and, if available, whether it will be able to cover the current debt and any further debts the club may incur.
It goes on to state that if the club do possess the monies, Sbu Classics needs to know how much can be covered so they can make an informed decision regarding any subsequent loans the club might require.
Meanwhile, the EFA Marketing and Communications Officer, Muzi ‘Rhoo’ Radebe, stated he was out of the office and could not comment on the issue as he had not seen the letter. Mbabane Swallows’ Public Relations Officer (PRO), Knowledge ‘Bhambo’ Ngwenya, said the only money he was aware of was the E850 000 they borrowed from former President Bheki Lukhele and was unaware of the Sbu Classics loan.
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