WITH THEIR EYES ALWAYS ON THEIR NEW SA DIRECTOR... PIRATES REJECTED ALLY’S E3M

EZULWINI – Mbabane Highlanders South African Managing Director (MD) Chief Ally Kgomongwe, has clarified the storm surrounding Moneni Pirates and his wife Alinah More.

While at it, he revealed that he once offered Moneni Pirates E3 million to buy the team outright. “For someone who offered E3 million to buy Moneni Pirates, I doubt they would refuse my offer then, only to allow someone come in with less or almost for free. If anything, it should be Pirates clearing the air here, as we are talking about their director who happens to be my wife.“Now even people who left Highlanders and resigned from us are talking a lot of nothing. I’m a Highlanders 100 per cent and you want to speak, place E4 million on the table and buy shares then talk,” Kgomongwe said when interviewed telephonically from his home in Pretoria, South Africa, where he is based.

Kgomongwe said it did not bother him at all that some people were talking, following that Pirates officially confirmed his wife as their new director.
“There was a lot of talk when I signed ‘Sikhali’ but today he’s playing even for Sihlangu, then I helped Wanderers, who even need someone now as a director, still people talked and now my wife helps Pirates I’m the one accused. She has her own businesses and if she agreed with Pirates, my being with Highlanders has nothing to do with her and her businesses. I respect women and children so I can’t stand in their way. Anyone thinks Moneni and Highlanders are run under one umbrella must show proof, because I know my team is not even run by me as I got no money but my companies,” Kgomongwe emphasised.

He said when he had wanted to buy Moneni, he was not attached to Highlanders who were then led by businessman Bheki ‘Rubber’ Simelane.
“They literally turned me down and the argument there, was that it’s a community team and could not relocate to Mbabane so why would they agree today even if I wanted to help them? I am also Simunye chairman and my duty is to ensure these teams don’t die but always have people to help run their business,” he explained.

Owned

Kgomongwe then made an example of Royal AM owner Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize and her then husband Sbu Mpisane owning teams in the same GladAfrica Championship League, SA’s second tier division. They first owned Royal Eagles from 2014 after buying  Sivutsa Stars FC and relocated it to Pietermaritzburg. ‘MaMkhize’ and her son Andile Mpisane then left Royal Eagles to join Real Kings, which they later renamed Royal AM. The latter team was in the GladAfrica Championship too and played against Sbu Mpisane’s team. “Football and FIFA are no joke, you need to know your story before challenging issues. I know my story very well so whoever can prove I run Pirates and any other team in Eswatini must bring proof,” Kgomongwe declared. He said what Highlanders people needed to know was that he was not easily swayed and also encouraged them to defend their club at all cost, because he was doing everything to win the league and knockouts over the security forces teams. He added that losing to Pirates in the league made him react by signing more players, but they were unfortunate to lose to the same team in the MoMo Cup penalty shootout.

Mentioned

It must be mentioned that Kgomongwe also gave an interview on the same subject to national radio Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS) yesterday. He said in that interview that whoever felt his wife was wrong to assist Pirates must produce their marriage certificate then they can start talking. Pirates President Osborne Nzima did not answer his cellphone when sought for comment. However, one of the Pirates officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, based on that he was not the relevant person, said it was true Kgomongwe tried to buy their team but they did not sell because it was a community team. He said even their new SA director would only assist them as a community team and nothing more.

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