Swazi Observer

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‘SPRINTER PURCHASE, TOUR NO SHOW-OFF’

By Sabelo Gwebu | 2021-03-01

SOCCER - MBABANE Swallows have come out to put it crystal clear that their new Mercedes Benz sprinter is not a counter buy or anyway meant to show off.

The red and white giants' President Archbishop Bheki Lukhele presented a 2020 model Mercedes Benz 22-seater sprinter bus to the team’s management committee, stating that the latest purchase fully belonged to the team’s.

"What the club president has done for the club is a never seen before thing.

As a team we are grateful for the sprinter and so many things he has done for the Swallows family.

The team has a fully furnished 11-bedroom house and has always opened the cheque book in every attempt done to get the best possible playing personnel. For that we are grateful," said Swallows General Manager Sandile 'Beyond 2000' Zwane.

He added that, "we are only worried about our in-house stability, issues and how best we can move forward. Some people will see the purchase as a statement to settle scores but that is not the case. If your neighbours eat rice it must not worry you that in your family it is porridge every day.

We are content with what we have and our duty is to make sure the team is ready to return to the pinnacle when football finally returns," he said.

The 'Birds' latest purchase comes after bitter-sworn rivals Mbabane Highlanders, through South Africa-born boss Ally Kgomongwe bought a 2017 model Mercedes Benz sprinter that was previously used by Swallows in a public auction about three weeks.

He also praised the president for religiously paying full players' wages in the last 11 or so months he has been with the club. grateful “We are grateful to the president for his continued commitment to pay salaries in full under the uncertain COVID-19 storm which has left football teams without any source of income," he said.

The E850 000 Swallows sprinter was delivered on Friday already branded with the team colours which has taken its cost to E950 000 as an average repainting job for a vehicle of that size is E100 000 in the local market.

On Saturday, Swallows took their 'baby' for a countrywide tour, visiting towns like Mbabane, Manzini, Pigg's Peak, Buhleni and Nhlangano, among others.

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