‘WESLIANS’ IN SPLITVILLE

MBABANE – Troubled Manzini Wanderers wear a brand known as ‘Wanderville’ but everything has since degenerated to ‘Splitville’.

Two days before the much anticipated clash against Manzini Sea Birds at Somhlolo National Stadium in the Y’éllo Sunday double-header, the impasse between the supporters and management led by MD Mduduzi ‘Tsotsi’ Mabila appears to be far from over. So serious is the problem that Manzini Wanderers’ participation in the Y’ello Sunday double-header is in huge doubt.

This follows the seemingly unresolved impasse between a section of the club’s aggrieved supporters and the leadership of Managing Director Mabila and the Management Committee (MC). On Tuesday, the supporters gave the club patrons and elders three days to address the issue of the team’s poor performance while Mabila and the MC were suspended. And yesterday, the team could not hold its training session for the third consecutive day, as Mabila and the MC distanced themselves from the team.

The supporters were also not prepared to renege from their resolution contained in a petition delivered to the council of elders, patrons and directors. And last night, they were due to hold another meeting to discuss a way forward following the elapsing of the three days’ deadline given to the patrons and elders.

In a new twist yesterday, Mabila said he was no longer part of the team, following the petition by the supporters.
“When people say they do not want you, then I cannot stay. I am not going to show cause why I should not be fired; I am one person who just steps down because this is a people’s team. If the people who hired do not want you and in a democratic society, the majority rules and I cannot like to be seen to be clinging to power,” Mabila said. He said he has also been advised by the elders and supporters about an urgent meeting tomorrow and he would do the official hand over there.

When this publication visited the maroon and white’s training base at the Trade Fair Ground, there was no one despite that coach Gcina ‘Magiyane’ Dlamini had insisted that the team would train.
“Even though the right person to talk to is the club Director Lawrence Lolo Mthethwa, I can say that I am on my way to training now.”
Efforts to get Mthethwa or the Council of Elders Vice Chairman Mike Mango proved futile as both cellphones were not answered.

Meanwhile, the club National Supporters Committee (NSC) Chairman Nhlanhla Mabuza said an urgent supporters’ meeting, which will also be attended by the elders and directors, has been convened for tomorrow at Manzini Library at 2pm. “Since the petition has reached the elders, we felt that maybe we should call the supporters and hear their concerns. We want to believe that they might have good intentions than bad ones,” he said.

Wanderers’ problems escalated after Friday night’s 0-2 loss to Malanti Chiefs, with aggrieved supporters operating under the banner of branch committees circulating a petition that was finally delivered to the elders and directors on Monday. In it they called for the suspension of the MD Mduduzi Mabila and the MC following the recent two consecutive losses in the league.

The disgruntled supporters gave the elders and patrons three days which elapsed yesterday, to deal with the matter.

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