STAND-OFF

MBABANE – Standoff.

The power struggle at hub giants Manzini Wanderers is now turning into a drama and threatening to reach boiling point. 

This follows a startling stand-off between one of the team’s shareholders, Sandile ‘Chief’ Dlamini, and former management committee chairman Bongani ‘Bhanyaza’ Mdluli on the club’s representative in the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Board of Governors (BoGs). 

Mdluli has been the club’s member of the BoGs and even served in the executive committee led by former PLE Chairman Peter ‘Touch’ Magagula as a co-opted member. 

What has now caused the stand-off between the two is a letter forwarded to the PLE by Dlamini in the past few days confirming that he will continue as Wanderers representative in the BoGs, a move that is not sitting well with Mdluli. 

In a statement yesterday, Mdluli sounded surprised that he had been replaced by Dlamini in the BoGs, stating that he had not received any letter from anyone including the new director alerting him of such news.

“What I know is that such powers to appoint office bearers are vested in the controlling director as was the case with the previous director and such appointments are then introduced to the council of elders for courtesy and blessings. 

letter

“Moreover it has always been a well- entrenched practice in the PLE that an outgoing BoG would countersign or confirm through a letter any incoming BoG representative for replacement,” Mdluli stated in the letter. 

The former Midas Mbabane City midfielder added that Dlamini, despite their numerous interactions, had not attempted to communicate such developments. “In short this is surprising as the continuity or consistency of Manzini Wanderers being fairly represented in the policy-making PLE structure is obviously going to be compromised. In any event, I will, therefore, pend my representation within the PLE and await any further official directive,” Mdluli added. 

Interestingly, Dlamini is singing a different tune as he is adamant that he is the rightful person to represent Wanderers in the BoGs. 

“I was appointed to be the Wanderers representative in the PLE BoGs in September 2015 to replace Tsotsi Mabila. As far as I know, Bhanyaza was never appointed to be governor, at least not officially by the club. 

“He must produce the official letter from Wanderers appointing him to be governor because we have not seen such. The letter signed by the shareholder of the club, Peter Mathaba, and sent to the PLE is confirmation from Wanderers that I will continue as their member in the PLE Board of Governors,” the long-serving Wanderers’ official said.

Dlamini further stated that the PLE was wrong to accept Mdluli in the BoGs without an official letter of authority from Wanderers.

However, Mdluli disputed this and pointed out that he was appointed by the team’s former director, Mehluli Nhlengetfwa, to represent the team in the PLE BoGs. 

files

“I have that letter from the former chairman appointing me into the BoGs on behalf of Wanderers and I believe that it is also in the PLE files. 

“It boggles the mind why he (Chief) has been quiet all along when he knew that I was serving as a member of the BoGs for the team. It does not make sense but I do not want to be caught up in controversy,” he said. 

No immediate comment could be obtained from the PLE office as Chief Operations Officer (COO) Pat Vilakati was said to be in a meeting when called last night.          

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