2 licensing applications for 'Birds' as ownership battle drags on

MBABANE – MTN Premier League giants Mbabane Swallows FC have finally submitted the required club licensing documents, beating the deadline on Tuesday.

This was revealed by Welile Mabuza, a Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Board of Governors (BoGs) member for the red and white capital city giants. Speaking on national radio, Mabuza first disclosed that no one from the Mbabane Swallows PTY Limited has engaged them to discuss issues pertaining to the club.

“There have been attempts by the Mbabane Swallows FC to engage Mbabane Swallows PTY Limited, and meetings were set, only to learn that they had written letters to the PLE demanding the club,” Mabuza said.

He stated that this was done by Mbabane Swallows PTY Limited without engaging the current leaders of the Mbabane Swallows FC.

Mabuza further revealed that amid the ownership battle at the ‘Birds’ nest, they were able to submit the club licensing documents on deadline day, which means the team will be competing in the upcoming season.

In Confederation of African Football (CAF) member countries like Eswatini, teams are required to submit licensing documents before the start of each season. This is in accordance with the CAF Club Licensing System. This system is designed to improve the quality of football in Africa by ensuring clubs have the necessary standards in place.

A club’s application for a licence is submitted to the national football association, which acts as the licensor. The national association then reviews the application and decides whether to grant a licence.

CAF has a specific deadline by which each national association must submit its club licensing decisions to CAF. The ‘Umkhonto KaShaka’ will begin the new season against Manzini Sea Birds in the 2025 8Bet Trade Fair Cup on September 1 at Mavuso Sports Centre.

Mabuza said failure to submit the documents would have led to huge challenges, as it would mean the team would not be able to compete this season. “I would like to assure our supporters that the team will be competing this season, and we are busy preparing,” he said.

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