Times Of Swaziland: I’M NOT SHAKEN – ALLY

I’M NOT SHAKEN – ALLY
================================================================================
BY SABELO NDZINISA on 07/08/2020 00:46:00


EZULWINI – He is not shaken one bit. Mbabane Highlanders Managing Director
Chief Ally Kgomongwe has come out to re-affirm his commitment in easing the
financial burden faced by Hub giants Manzini Wanderers.
This comes in the height of reports that Kgomongwe’s pledge to assist the
Manzini giants may land him in trouble with the Premier League of Eswatini
(PLE), as this is reportedly in conflict with the constitution governing the
operations of the organisation.
interview
However, in an interview yesterday in Ezulwini, the clearly relaxed Kgomongwe
declared confidently that he was ready to face whatever may be thrown at him by
the PLE in terms of sanctions, but reiterated that this would not stop him from
fulfilling his pledge to Wanderers.
The Pretoria-based businessman sounded very surprised and disappointed that his
offer to assist Wanderers is being blown out of proportion with negative
publicity.
In a joint press conference held recently at the Happy Valley Hotel, Kgomongwe
confirmed to journalists that he was assisting Wanderers in securing a director
and would in the meantime assist them in meeting their financial obligations,
like paying salaries and signing new players.
challenged
The African National Congress (ANC) politician explained that he was only acting
on a formal request from the financially-challenged Wanderers to assist them get
a new director.
This is something he has already managed to achieve as he announced that there
were two potential directors ready to take over the team.
Kgomongwe said the two prospective directors were meant to be in the country
with him to finalise the takeover talks with Wanderers, but could not due to the
strict COVID-19 travelling regulations.
“My pledge to assist Wanderers while awaiting the official takeover by one of
the directors was done in good faith, especially because they (Wanderers) took
the courage to approach me for assistance.
“I am not even an agent but just a messenger as I was the one who negotiated
with the two directors on behalf of Wanderers.
“It is therefore puzzling why there is negative publicity about something that
will benefit Eswatini football because Wanderers were one of the big teams
here,” he said.
Kgomongwe further declared that if assisting Wanderers meant taking a bullet, he
was more than prepared for that.
“If the PLE will decide to punish me for offering my help to a big team that
is clearly in need of assistance, then I will take the bullet for that. This
should not be about Ally assisting Wanderers but football in Eswatini because we
all know their situation financially.
watch
“We cannot watch Wanderers die when we can assist them stay alive. I expected
people who understand modern football to take this positively but clearly, I was
wrong because I am now the bad person when I’m trying to help,” he lamented.
Kgomongwe added that his financial pledge to Wanderers was more of a loan
because it would be paid back to him when the new director took over.
“We may be rivals with Wanderers in the field of play, but that does not mean
we should be enemies. Even if Mbabane Swallows were to request similar
assistance, I would gladly help them because rivalry in football should start
and end in the field of play. Football is business now and that’s why you see
teams in professional leagues like South Africa sharing sponsors without any
hassle,” he said.