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BIRDS’ BOSS DONATES E10K TO ‘KOKI’S FAMILY

01/09/2020 00:28:00 BY LWAZI DLAMINI

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Sports Editor

MBABANE – Blessed is the hand that gives than the one that takes.

This biblical verse (Acts 20:35) rang true yesterday when a high-powered Mbabane Swallows delegation made a E10 000 donation to the family of late former coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati on behalf of club President, Archbishop Bheki Lukhele.

An informed source, who was part of the delegation that visited Vilakati’s family home yesterday at Manzana, a few kilometres outside Mbabane CBD, confided in this publication that the club president, Archbishop Lukhele, forked out E10 000 as a donation to the late coach’s family.

Preparation

“As we were asked by the president to go and pay our last respects to the Vilakati family, he then gave us E10 000 to give to the family to help in the preparation for the burial of our former coach. We are very grateful to the president for the kind gesture,” the source said.

Swallows delegation was led by Chairman of the Council of Elders Absalom Ngwenya, who was joined by the club’s PLE Board of Governor Andreas Lukhele, team manager Banele Cindzi, Communications and Marketing Manager Mancoba Mabuza, MC member Party Bhiya, former MC members Masotja Vilakati, Lloyd ‘Magic Feet’ Maziya, representatives from supporter’s committee and the former management committee members.

Ngwenya confirmed that the president made a befitting donation to the Vilakati family and they were received by the family of the club’s most successful coach in its 72-year chequered history.

Delivering his speech, Archbishop Ngwenya said: “The club president has instructed us to come and convey our heartfelt condolences to the family.

“Vilakati made a great contribution to the club especially in its pursuit to conquer Africa when we qualified for group stages of both the CAF Confederation Cup and Champions League.

Affected

“Football has been hugely affected by his demise,” Ngwenya said.

Effusive tributes have continued to pour in since the country’s most decorated coach Vilakati passed away on Thursday evening while undergoing treatment at Lubombo Referral Hospital in Siteki.