WeeklySA_AdminCross-Border Raid: Bloem businessman confirms talks with financially troubled eSwatini capital giants
By Ali Mphaki
The financially- strapped Mbabane Swallows may be saved from its quagmire thanks to a South African consortium led by Bloemfontein businessman Eddie Modise if reports from the eSwatini kingdom are anything to go by.
According to a Times Of Swaziland article it appears that discussions are underway as a prominent South African businessman has confirmed he had been in talks with the financially-troubled Birds, who are urgently in seeking investors to help them get back on their feet.
Reports of unpaid salaries surfaced last week, highlighting that the players had refrained from attending training throughout the week due to salary-related issues. The newspaper reports that Mbabane Swallows management committee has made no secret of their desperate search for a suitable partner, particularly following their lacklustre performance last season.
The “Birds” as Mbabane Swallows are known, finished outside the MTN Premier League’s top four for the first time since 2018, a bitter disappointment for their loyalists. Swallows’ Public Relations Officer, Knowledge ‘Bhambo’ Ngwenya, however, has confirmed that players received their salaries for the past month and acknowledged the concerns raised by fans.
“The players were duly compensated for their April salaries, and we extend our gratitude to the management for ensuring this matter was addressed promptly.
The “Birds” as Mbabane Swallows are known, finished outside the MTN Premier League’s top four for the first time since 2018, a bitter disappointment for their loyalists.
Founded in 1948, Swallows or more affectionately called Umkhonto Kashaka, it holds the record of the first Swazi club to participate in the CAF Champions League, when they did it in 2018.
It was also in the same year when Swallows financial woes began with the murder of its tycoon and businessman owner Victor Gamedze, his life snuffed by two bullets at a Galp Filling Station in Ezulwini, January 14.
The 52-year-old telecoms tycoon had just watched his beloved Swallows, a team he owned and had built into a local footballing powerhouse, beat rivals Manzini Wanderers. It was the last victory he would see.
At the time of his death, there were rumours Gamedze wanted to “import” his Swallows to the South African premier league, bemoaning lack of “top class” competition from eSwatini teams.
Sipho Shongwe, a director of a rival club Matsapha United was found to have orchestrated the callous murder of the influential Gamedze and is awaiting sentence in a Mbabane correctional facility.
Bra Eddie, as Modise is popularly known, recently acquired the naming rights for R5-million from Max Tshabalala, who owned Bloemfontein Celtic when they were purchased by Shauwn Mkhize in 2021 and renamed Royal AM.
Modise is also a well-known property mogul his business styled Property 2000 once won a US$2-billion contract to build affordable houses in the Ethiopian capital back in 2021.
Whilst talks with Swallows are continuing, Modise has also outlined his strategy to begin Bloemfontein Celtic in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. He believes starting in the second tier offers ample time to rebuild Phunya Sele Sele into a formidable force.
“We’re negotiating with some teams especially my wish even though I know most of the people want to see the team back in the PSL … but the strategy that will work better is when we start in the NFD [national first division] which is actually a professional league as well,” he said.
“The vision to start a little bit lower is to get yourself together, to get the confidence of the players. If you start at the top, the only way is down…”
The potential resurrection of the Bloemfontein Celtic brand would be welcomed news for the passionate Siwelele supporters who have been without their beloved team since its sale and relocation to Durban a few years ago.
In their last outing against a South African team eight months ago, Swallows were humiliated 8-nil by Mamelodi Sundowns in CAF Champions League two-leg qualifier.
The South African consortium with Modise’s Midas touch might also just be the right tonic to bring back glory days for Mbabane Swallows.
