MBABANE - Mbabane Swallows FC has firmly dismissed reports that Swallows Pty Ltd owns the club.
This firm rebuttal came in a press statement issued yesterday by the club's president, Absolom Ngwenya, directly addressing articles published on Monday that had asserted Swallows Pty Ltd's rightful ownership of Eswatini's oldest football club.
The contentious ownership claim is part of a concerted and multifaceted campaign by Swallows Pty Ltd. The company is actively pursuing the removal of Mbabane Swallows FC from the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) legal forms. In a parallel effort, Swallows Pty Ltd has submitted a CAF Club Licensing application to the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) and has formally petitioned the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs for permission to use Somhlolo National Stadium as its home ground.
Furthermore, Swallows Pty Ltd has challenged the legal standing of Mbabane Swallows FC with the PLE, demanding its removal and the subsequent endorsement of a new legal form from Swallows Pty Ltd to be entered into the league's official records.
In a separate but related development, an interim task team, led by chairman Bongani Dlamini on behalf of Princess Lungile, has scheduled a meeting for Saturday. The purpose of this meeting is to announce a new management committee and a technical bench, which is set to be led by seasoned Coach Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini.
In a comprehensive press statement, Swallows FC president Ngwenya directly addressed the ongoing disputes, firmly refuting claims of ownership by Swallows Pty Ltd. He clarified that the club was founded by the late chairman, Victor Gamedze, who had owned 100 per cent of the shares, which were subsequently transitioned to the club's supporters, making them the ultimate owners. "The club does not belong to the Gamedze family and was not founded by Swallows Pty Ltd," the president asserted.
The statement also underscored the club's readiness for the upcoming 2025/26 season, confirming that the squad is in preparation and has scheduled practice matches. Ngwenya also addressed the use of the club’s branding, stressing that there is only one registered Mbabane Swallows FC logo.
Addressing the matter of supporters' meetings, the club clarified that the National Supporters Committee (NSC) is the sole body responsible for convening such gatherings. They noted that the last national meeting occurred in 2012 and deemed a recent meeting called for Sunday, August 10, 2025 as illegal. The club also acknowledged past, unsuccessful attempts to meet with Swallows Pty shareholders, stating that a previous effort was ‘poorly handled’ but expressed a renewed willingness to engage for the 2025/26 football season.
Looking to the future, the statement outlined that a new plan for the club's structure and operations is currently being developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, including sponsors, the Management Committee, the Board of Trustees and the NSC.
Mbabane Swallows before one of their games last season. (Pic: File)