MBABANE: The past weekend was an important passover phase that marked what may be an important turning point for the two most important teams in Eswatini soccer. But there was also a third surprise.
The first was the unexpected emergence of the national team coach, Zdravko Logarusic, AWOL for almost two weeks. He turned out at the Mavuso Stadium in Manzini where he was seen watching the game between Sidvwashini and Sisonke United. He had not been seen since his charges, the national team Sihlangu went out, coachless to a humiliating 2-1 excursion against Guinea Bissau. That was followed by a 6-0 slaughter by Mali.
The second surprise, was the emergence of striking Mbabane Swallows players who unexpectedly turned up in Nhlangano, against the odds, to hold Rangers to a goal-less draw at the King Sobhuza ll Stadium. Gloomy Swallows players are angry that they are owed salaries over an extended period, and reportedly even refused enticement to accept part payment if only they would come out and play at the weekend.
The third, was the re-appearance of Mbabane Highlanders, against Illovo. They too, are caught in a tug-o-war between rival factions tearing the club apart.
Surprisingly, they trotted onto the field, totally unexpected, taking even taking their own supporters by surprise, a development that seems to have slightly embarrassed an ebullient Swallows spokesman Knowledge Ngwenya. “Please accept my apologies on behalf of the management committee. This is unheard of. It has never happened that the team can go out and play without informing their fans,” Swallows spokesman Knowledge Ngwenya conceded to the Monday Radio Eswatini sports show.
Rival faction tried to stop players
Ngwenya confided that they had to keep their cards close to their chest to evade detractors who are using Swallows’ players as pawns in the internal battles within the club. “We had serious uncertainty in the three days leading to the match because people behind the scenes were actively manipulating the situation, even approaching players telling them to refuse to go and play,” Ngwenya said. The Swallows spokesman also dismissed the notion that players were refusing to play only because they are owed. “This is not the first time that the Club has been unable to pay its players, ….yet they have never refused to play”.
The source of Swallows financial problems, Ngwenya says, was the club’s campaign in the CAF series. “Our information was that CAF had promised to pay E900 even before the knockout stage. We then thought that we could use our own money because by the time we are through with CAF, we would have enough money to pay our players. But it was only when we received the CAF Memo that showed that money would only be released at the end of the tournament, which is next year. This totally upset our finances and put us in a very bad position. This is the sort of development that would destabilize any management. This crisis is not of our making, but we tried our best and went out to mobilize our sponsors who were forthcoming. Our Bishop came through. Eclipse came through. We really are grateful to our sponsors who supported us during this time”.
Finally handing over team to Princess
Swallows however have still been unable to resolve their most urgent challenge to pay their players who last week hauled them before the Commission for Conciliation and Arbitration Mediation Commission to demand payment.
“We are really grateful for our players for showing up to play on Saturday. It would have been a disaster if our opponents had been able to pick 3 free points because our team did not turn up. We thank our players for protecting our brand, and for attaining an important result, considering that they played Rangers without undergoing any training or preparation for the game.
The lasting solution that the Swallows management under chairman Welile Mabuza, is to hand over the team to Princess Lungile, widow of the late Mbabane Swallows owner, Victor Gamedze who will then appoint her own management committee. This handover failed last week, because the Princess was reportedly out of the country. The current team plans to completely take a back seat from now onwards to avoid any accusation of interfering with the work of their successors.
Jm/today/25.11.2024
