MBABANE – Ezulwini United goalkeeper Innocent Adja has initiated legal proceedings against two Mbabane Highlanders players in the Small Claims Court.
This action arises from the alleged failure of the two players to pay for football boots valued at E5 000, with each player said to be owing E2 500.
The players have been served with summons requiring payment of the outstanding amount by July 25, failing which, they will face proceedings in the Small Claims Court. The summons were served on June 24 by Adja.
It has come to light that the transaction transpired in September 2024.
Despite an alleged agreement to pay half the amount initially and the remainder within two months, the players allegedly did not pay any amount to the Ghanaian goalkeeper.
Efforts to secure payment since September have been unsuccessful, with the players reportedly promising to pay monthly but either postponing or failing to respond to Adja’s communications. This situation persisted until the former Manzini Wanderers goalkeeper reported the matter to the Small Claims Court recently.
According to the court documents, the summons require the two players to appear in court on July 25 to admit or deny their liability for the claim detailed therein.
If they deny liability, they must, before the hearing, deliver to the clerk of the Small Claims Court at Mbabane Magistrates Court, a written statement setting out the nature of their defence and the particulars on which it is based. A copy of this statement must also be delivered to the Ezulwini United goalkeeper.
The particulars of the claim state that the plaintiff seeks payment of E2 500 from each player for football boots purchased on credit. The Ezulwini United player demands full settlement of the debt.
It is noteworthy that Nyawo was found guilty on October 23, 2024 of stealing football boots and was fined E500 for the offence, with the alternative of five months imprisonment. The fine was paid, with assistance from former Mbabane Swallows Logistics Manager Dumezweni Dlamini.
At that time, Nyawo issued a public apology for tarnishing the team’s reputation.
This followed his appearance before Senior Crown Counsel Chris Sibandze for stealing football boots valued at E1 600 belonging to Machawe Xulu.
It is further noted that the then Mbabane Highlanders Director, Ally Kgomongwe, expressed sympathy for the player and stated that he ensured his players were well remunerated. Notably, Kgomongwe left and it was then that Highlanders supporters sought the assistance of Bheki ‘Rubber’ Simelane.
In recent developments, the patrons recently terminated Mbabane Highlanders Director Bheki ‘Rubber’ Simelane’s 18-month contract which started in April 2025. Among several reasons cited in their letter was the absence of a proper remuneration structure for the players, resulting in them receiving only incentives rather than a fixed or structured salary.
However, Simelane through his lawyers responded by issuing a demand for E1 million from the patrons for breach of contract, stating: “We are therefore instructed by our client to inform you that the termination is unlawful and therefore not accepted, unless your Board of Patrons compensates our client with all expenses incurred during the two-month period while the club was under his directorship.
“We are further instructed to demand from you, as we hereby do, compensation for damages suffered by our client as a result of the premature and unlawful termination of the agreement, being the sum of E1 million.”
However, following a recent meeting, the patrons extended an apology to Simelane.
Sources close to Simelane indicated that he insisted on a formal written apology from the patrons before he would commit to continuing his role with Highlanders.
Currently, some players confirmed that the team remains uncertain about whether Simelane is still the director.
Leave a comment