After weeks of complex negotiations and public disagreement involving the ownership of Eswatini football team Mbabane Highlanders FC, the matter appears to have been finally resolved.
The three-way complication between other potential leaders of the club, Bheki "Rubber" Simelane, Ally Kgomongwe, and Shauwn "MaMkhize" Mkhize is understood to have come to an end, with a clear path forward now established.
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Kgomongwe, who also runs Extension Gunners in Botswana, has told Soccer Laduma in an exclusive interview that he has officially signed over the Eswatini club to MaMkhize, making her the new managing director.
"I can tell you now without fear or favour that MaMkhize will be in charge of Mbabane Highlanders from this season. As I have told you before, there are no two owners of Mbabane Highlanders FC. I am the rightful owner, and I have signed the team over to MaMkhize, and she will now agree with the patrons and elders of the club on how long she will run it. The Swaziland Football Association and the Premier Soccer League of Eswatini (PLE) will now be able to register the players ahead of the coming season," Kgomongwe said.
He further expressed relief that the protracted saga has been resolved, noting it was beginning to affect his other business interests.
"This was weighing heavily on my other football team because it made me look like a dishonest person. I am a businessman and I have to run everything in an honest way. So, now that Mbabane Highlanders FC have been handed over to MaMkhize we can concentrate on the other team and other businesses. I am just happy this is over now. It's a relief to me," Kgomongwe said.
Meanwhile, Highlanders FC Public Relations Officer Lington Gule confirmed that the club has finally been transferred to Shauwn MaMkhize, who now assumes the role of managing director.
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"Yes, it's true. For the sake of the football club and the thousands of supporters that are following the club, Mr Bheki Rubber Simelane saw it prudent to allow the process to go ahead. There is a knockout tournament that the club has to focus on and get ready for.
He is at peace with the contribution he made to the club during the time he was looking after it. He will consider his options going forward, whether he takes a break from football or if he continues to contribute to Eswatini Football in a different environment. You know Mr Simelane is a Swazi and he is not going to allow South Africans to come between him and the people of Eswatini who love Mbabane Highlanders. He hopes everything will go well for the club and its supporters," Gule confirmed to Soccer Laduma.
Currently, Mbabane Highlanders FC are conducting their pre-season training in Pietermaritzburg at facilities previously used by Royal AM, as they prepare for Eswatini's first knockout tournament of the season, the Trade Fair Cup, which begins later this month.
