Shauwn "MaMkhize" Mkhize's ambition to acquire another football club has encountered a significant obstacle in Eswatini, according to Siya sources close to the situation.
Eswatini Premier Soccer League (EPSL) CEO Pat Vilakati has informed Soccer Laduma that Mkhize, who was set to become the new owner of Mbabane Highlanders with plans to rename the team to Mbabane Highlanders AM FC, missed the crucial 21 July registration deadline.
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In an exclusive interview, Vilakati explained that the formal change of directorship from current owner Bheki "Rubber" Simelane to Mkhize never materialised, leaving the club's ownership status unchanged.
"Yes, at the moment, the team hasn't changed its ownership and name. The expected new owner Miss Shauwn Mkhize and the old director, Bheki Simelane were supposed to sign handover papers to register Mkhize as the new owner, but that didn't happen, and the closing date was Monday, 21 July. As a league, we understand that Mkhize is supposed to pay Simelane a compensation fee because he had an 18-month contract with Mbabane Highlanders FC which we believe Mkhize hasn't yet paid. Simelane can't hand over the ownership without that compensation hence the snag in registering her as the new owner. So, for now, it's still under Mr Bheki Rubber Simelane's name," Vilakati told Soccer Laduma.
The CEO further stated that the Eswatini season will commence with the team retaining its original name, without Mkhize's proposed modifications.
"As for now, that's how things will be. They could not change the directorship and the team name, so in our books it's still the old name with old directors as we prepare to start the new season. Until we get a written letter from Mr Simelane indicating that we can change the name then it will remain Mbabane Highlanders. Mind you, the registration and name change deadline was last week Monday, the 21st of July," Vilakati concluded.
When contacted by Soccer Laduma, Simelane briefly confirmed that the issue centres around pending compensation.
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"All I can say is that there was an agreement to compensate me before the change of the name, and I am still waiting for that to happen, and that's why the name change hasn't happened yet," Simelane told the Siya crew.
It remains to be seen if Mkhize could resolve the matter and complete the club takeover process at a later stage.
Soccer Laduma reached out to Mkhize for comment regarding the situation but received no response at the time of publishing.
