STOP DIVIDING US - ELDERS

MANZINI – Manzini Wanderers elders have thrown their full weight behind their under-attack directors.

A section of the aggrieved supporters, who formed a task team, had raised eyebrows after petitioning the Bheki Shongwe-led directors to vacate office. The decision, which was communicated through a letter dated February 18, 2017, almost led to unrest at the maroon and white outfit.

Reacting to the developments, the elders in yesterday’s press briefing at the Hub Mall in Manzini, strongly condemned what they termed a move to destabilise the team, saying the aggrieved party further abused ‘company’ property by using the team’s logo in their letterheads.

Addressing the media yesterday after meeting the bosses the previous day were elders that included Enock Dlamini, former Supporters’ Chairman Bheki Gamedze and Japhter Fakudze. They were in the company of well-known female elder Isabel Sukati, who is secretary. Chairman Bheki Ntshalintshali was reported to be held up.

“We noticed the letter from the so-called task team addressed to the directors had the team’s logo. This is illegal. Defiance will lead to disciplinary action.
“Wanderers are a company and the current directors are constituted. The hierarchy is as follows; patrons, directors, management committee, elders and supporters,” said Dlamini.

The team’s stalwarts unanimously said the views of the task team were not shared by the hundreds of the team’s loyalists. In their letter, the angry supporters’ reasons for suspending the directorship were headlined by what they termed failure by the leadership to update them on developments in the team for over a year. The elders have since assured that a mass meeting is scheduled for the end of the season. “As far as we’re concerned the team is doing well at the moment. We’re fourth on the log on top of reaching the semi-finals of the SwaziBank Cup,” said Dlamini.

In Tuesday’s meeting involving the directors, the aggrieved supporters were reportedly invited to be part of the deliberations. Majayivane Dlamini, who is in the forefront in the call for regime change at the team, said they were unmoved by the threats.

“We’re assigned by the supporters to tackle the issues. We are not shaken. We want a formal correspondence from the elders on our concerns. We don’t want to be addressed through the media. We’re raising genuine concerns that derail the team,” said Dlamini.

The well-known Wanderers supporter, who was vice chairman of the disbanded supporters’ structure, said causing instability in the team was the last thing in their mind.
“We deserve to be updated on issues concerning the team, but that hasn’t happened for a long time. They should entertain us as we also assist financially at times,” claimed Majayivane.

Asked on why he snubbed a meeting with the elders, Majayivane said he got the invitation very late and it was impossible to make it at the gathering venue on time. The elders further said there were unknown people who acted as marshals and would be removed upon reviewing all the structures at the end of the current campaign. In a statement in the past month, the directors, who came on board in 2015, had also disowned the task team, insisting they were calling the shots. They apologised to stakeholders for the confusion.
Meanwhile, the latest developments have happened just three days before the crucial SwaziBank Cup semi-final clash against Matsapha United at Somhlolo National Stadium.

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