MBABANE – It is now official!
Mbabane Highlanders President and Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Board of Governors (BoGs) member Bheki ‘Rubber’ Simelane, has reportedly stepped down from his positions within the team. According to a source close to the former Inkunzi’emnyama and Mbabane Swallows deadly striker, Simelane made the decision after considering that his appointment as the team’s leader has caused division among the patrons.
The source disclosed that Simelane is unhappy about being singled out as the cause of division among the club’s elders. The source was quick to highlight that he also thanked the Highlanders family for entrusting him with the responsibility of running the team.
“It is now official; ‘Rubber’ is no longer Highlanders President, as he has since stepped down after receiving death threats,” the source said.
Upon receiving these allegations, the Times of Eswatini Sports Desk obtained a letter, reportedly written by Simelane to one of the unnamed patrons, informing him of his decision to resign as Highlanders president.
“I am humbled and honoured to be considered for such a huge task. I have been following the news, and I realised that my appointment as director of the club is bringing division among the Highlanders family,” Simelane said.
He also alleged that he was now receiving death threats from anonymous calls, both from within the country and South Africa, warning him to step aside or face the consequences.“This put my family at risk once again and after much consideration and consultation with my family, we have come to a decision that being involved in the leadership of the club is no longer safe.
“I, therefore, would like to formally announce my resignation from being director of Mbabane Highlanders,” he explained.
Simelane stated that he wished there was another way to resolve the issue, but it seems some factions want to tarnish his name, which is affecting everything that he does. “The situation is beyond my control. I am a Highlanders person and I have accepted that I cannot allow seeing Highlanders die because of me,” Simelane said. He further thanked the patrons who believed in and supported him, as well as the management, technical bench, players and supporters for being there during the club’s trying times.
Meanwhile, another source from the patrons’ side revealed that they are allegedly contemplating not withdrawing the termination letter which was directed to Simelane a few weeks ago. The genesis of the matter was when the patrons held a meeting at the Eswatini College of Technology (ECOT), where the team was born in 1952. It was revealed in the meeting that the team was planning to hold a gala dinner in honour of the legends who left their mark on the team. The gala dinner is set to take place this weekend at the St Mark’s High School Hall. Simelane’s management committee (MC) felt that he should have been engaged in the planning as the leader of the club. This led to the patrons terminating his contract, and in response, Simelane demanded E1 million from the patrons for the expenses he incurred during his reign.
The parties were said to be working on mending the broken relationship in a bid to ensure ‘Rubber’s return.
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