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By JONGILE XUBA | 2024-11-15
SOCCER - IN a bold and candid move, Mbabane Highlanders players have voiced their frustrations
regarding what they describe as ‘modern-day slavery’ under the leadership of their Managing Director (MD), Ally Kgomongwe.
For the past three months, the players reported that they had not received their salaries, pushing them to seek an intervention from the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) with the hope of rectifying what they say is a dire situation.
With the assistance of the Mbabane National Supporters Committee (NSC), the players submitted a petition to the PLE yesterday, urging the league’s management not to release any gate-takings to MD Kgomongwe.
The players explained that the funds should be directed towards their overdue salaries. The gravity of their plight has also prompted some dedicated Highlanders fans to step in, offering direct assistance to help cover the players' living expenses.
Fans have expressed their disappointment and concern, alleging that the MD had neglected the team’s welfare despite being responsible for
overseeing operations. This ongoing turmoil follows the recent suspension of CEO Musa Masuku by Kgomongwe, which was reportedly triggered by Masuku’s decision to halt the club activities.
Players claim that, in addition to missing three months' worth of salaries, some of them were yet to receive signing-on fees that were promised when they joined the team.
Petition NSC member John Dlamini delivered the petition on behalf of the players, addressing it to PLE acting CEO Petros Vilakati. In Vilakati’s absence, PLE Marketing Officer Lindokuhle Mthupha accepted the document. Dlamini highlighted the intense hardship the players endured, claiming that basic needs, including food and shelter, were not being met due to the MD’s negligence.
“We as players have been suffering in silence under the leadership of our South African MD Ally Kgomongwe. Under his leadership, we have not been paid our salaries on time and sometimes not paid at all.
It is for these reasons that your office is requested to consider not releasing the gate collections to our director, as we were hoping that at least we were going to get something out of the collections for us to at least survive,” they said. The players also stated that their current conditions surpassed the hardships of ancient slaves as they struggled daily without basic necessities.
“Our experience under his leadership is far worse than the ancient slavery days as we hardly have something to eat each day and we do not have shelter. Food and shelter are basic needs of any human being, including ourselves as Mbabane Highlanders players. Payment of salaries is a primary obligation to any employer for services rendered,” they said.
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