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ALLY ‘IN TALKS’ TO BUY SA’S MBOMBELA UTD

14/06/2020 05:52:00 BY CHRIS DLAMINI

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EZULWINI - He is reportedly looking to expand his football investment closer to the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Mbabane Highlanders South African businessman and politician Chief Ally Kgomongwe, it has been gathered, is currently said to be busy negotiating to purchase a team status in the GladAfrica Championship, South Africa’s (NFD) second-tier.
“He has got a number of options to buy a status in the NFD as not only Mbombela United are selling but few other teams,” said an impeccable source.

The source said because Kgomongwe has a good relationship with Mbombela United’s owner Oupa Matsebula, his first preference is the Mpumalanga-based club.

Plan

It was established that he was also looking at TS Galaxy among other clubs but whichever he gets, the plan is to move the club to the Vaal and after one season, it will change its name to Vaal Professionals.
Reached about this, the Highlanders and Ally’s Tigers FC chairman confirmed the latest.
“We have Ally’s Tigers here who can develop a good fanbase like Mbabane Highlanders and I would like to see that team in NFD. Oupa is a good friend and has already helped us get Banele Ndzabandzaba as Highlanders so I’m talking to him about buying Mbombela United,” he said.

He also stated that if this deal does not work out, there were options to buy other clubs.
“My lawyer is handling the Mbombela United issue on my behalf and they are the ones with all information,” he said.

Kgomongwe said he was aware that a team in the GladAfrica championship would cost between E10 million and E15 million while in the PSL the process ranges from E40 million to over E60 million according to information from the net.
“If this goes well it will mean Ally’s Tigers in NFD fighting for PSL and then Highlanders in Eswatini,” he said when questioned if this meant Ally’s Tigers take the status in NFD and him leaving Highlanders.

FORWARD

He said he was not going anywhere in local football as he was focused on taking Highlanders forward. Kgomongwe had earlier planned to take the NFD status to Vaal Professionals but was then advised by his tribe’s king to keep it at home with Tigers for support.
Noteworthy is that our sister publication, the Times of Eswatini reported the possible sale of Mbombela United who were in a fight to survive relegation before the coronavirus outbreak early this year. Also, the club has several emaSwati under its employ in the likes of former Mbabane Swallows stars Felix Badenhorst, Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa, Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu, Polokwane City’s on-loan midfielder Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze and former Denver Sundowns and Maritzburg United’s Justice ‘Figa’ Figuareido.

Furthermore, the technical bench has former Eswatini international Dennis ‘Yuki’ Masina and former Swallows trainer Siyabonga Bhembe.
Meanwhile, Mbombela Chairman Oupa Mathebula was also sought for comment on the issue. However, it was in vain as he had not responded by the time of going to press. Nonetheless, back in February he confirmed to Farpost that he was even ready to give away the club for free so long as a suitor would take good care of the Nelspruit-based giants.

LOWER

“I like football. I have even been involved with the youth at lower levels of the game. But there are a lot of problems. Too many unwarranted stuff and it’s costing us money. Now I just want to sell the team. I can even give it away for free as long as the person or people who will take it will take good care of the team and if they feel like they are tired of running it after some time I can then get it back,” he was quoted at the time.
Meanwhile, the mediating lawyer for Ally’s Tigers and Mbombela United, Mandla Tshabalala, confirmed the purported deal. “What I can confirm is that Mr Ally Kgomongwe has spoken to Oupa and told him he is interested in buying the team. Legalities will come afterwards,” he responded.

King Motheo of Bakwena ba mogopa tribe and cousin to Chief Kgomongwe was also reached.
“We used to have Platinum Stars but the team was sold and a neighbour tribe in our community owned it.
“This now is an opportunity for us to have a team again so Ally’s Tigers must get that NFD status if we succeed with getting Mbombela United,” he said.
He said if it’s their club, getting the required support would be easy and also spoke highly of the passion within the local youth for player recruitment.
One of the Mbombela United stars, Felix Badenhorst said he was currently in the dark about the latest news when it was highlighted to him.