‘WESLIANS’ THROUGH, LEOPARD OUT

EZULWINI – Call it keeping your cards close to your chest. That is what can best describe yesterday’s Mbabane Highlanders statement by the team’s South African director, businessman and politician Chief Ally Kgomongwe, along with the club’s acting patron Chairman Thembinkosi Mamba.

The director met some of the patrons being Musa Masuku, Moi Moi Masilela and Moses Dlamini, supporters committee and management committee at Royal Swazi Sun Hotel and Convention Centre yesterday.

It had been a long week for the club as they dominated local newspaper headlines after suspending head coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati. However, patrons intervened and temporarily overturned the decision which did not sit well with Kgomongwe.

After the two-hour meeting yesterday, Kgomongwe and Mamba briefed the media on their resolutions.
“It’s a meeting about some patrons not all of us along with the director but I will let him address you,” he said.
Kgomongwe was diplomatic.

“Patrons have agreed not to interfere with the director even when we fire people. We have united for the derby,” he said.

specific question

When a specific question was asked if the head coach would be in charge, Mamba took over and said ‘Go to the ground you’ll find interesting news’.
Kgomongwe said what was important was for them to win the match and later sit down again. However, by late afternoon yesterday it was established that Vilakati was doubtful on the bench with a letter reporting his absence today allegedly written to the Eswatini Football Association. Kgomongwe had earlier in the week announced trainer Maluka Matsoalenyane and a goalkeeper trainer would be in charge.

The club’s Technical Director Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini could also return as coach for this game which would render the EFA letter pointless as he is qualified.
However, efforts to get Dlamini failed at the time as his cellphone consistently rang unanswered. It remains to be seen if Vilakati will be in charge today after Kgomongwe spoke strongly about the overturned suspension with the patrons. Kgomongwe was due to attend the club’s training yesterday afternoon whereby impeccable sources close to the club said he informed the coach and players of his decision.

However, Kgomongwe remained cautious and diplomatic that any changes would be seen during the match if any.
He was also assured by the supporters committee and patrons that it was high time they stopped supporters from directly talking to the director but use the team’s structures if they have any opinion. This follows his concern that he was having trouble with a certain supporter.

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