The dearly departed Mbabane Swallows Chairman Victor ‘Maradona’ Gamedze uttered these immortal words against the backdrop of the Ingwenyama Cup 2017 1-0 triumph over army side Young Buffaloes in a fiercely contested final.
Donning his trademark, Gunners of London, Arsenal black cap, slouched insolently in his swivel chair at his MVTel offices at Sidvwashini, Gamedze was basking – literally – on another sweet victory over a security forces team and another addition in the overflowing trophy cabinet.
He took another sip from his water bottle, gave me a deadpan look and then broke into his raucous laughter. Then he blurted: “Ilukhuni i-Mbabane Swallows mkhulu.”
Seven years since we had that conversation and before that bumbling fool, with no regard for life, pumped two bullets into his head on that fateful night of January 14, 2018, at exactly 6:53 pm, his words couldn’t be truer.
ALSO READ: Over 4 000 Ingwenyama Cup…
Founded in 1948, Mbabane Swallows’s chequered history is rooted in the defiance of the odds. Theirs is the reincarnation of the human spirit.
Faced with the adversity of replacing someone who not only breath, ate and lived football but also who loved the club with every beat of his heart, Swallows have weathered the storm of challenges to continue challenging the much-maligned security forces team whose dominance of local football knows no bounds.
Enter Archbishop Bheki Lukhele, a subject of some tantalizing media reports from the Swazi leaks currently dominating social media platforms, who took over from Gamedze’s wife, Princess Lungile.
No doubt he has played his part, especially during the difficult Covid-19 pandemic era which threatened to render most of our teams extinct and continues to do so even in these trying circumstances. Granted, he is no Victor Gamedze.
They can never be one. Not even one close to emulate how he administered the club and the sacrifices he made to create a football monster which Yours Truly even nicknamed ‘Van Damme’ because of the pain it mustered on its opponents with gay abandon.
Since the MTN league triumph in the 2017/2018 season, the dominant Swallows roar has been replaced by a whimper.
Five trophyless seasons have been a stark reminder that indeed the club’s most successful chairman has gone to a better place than the cruel world we live in. Unpaid players’ salaries, players’ strikes and top players leaving to join other local sides are some of the headlines we have read in recent times which would not have been associated with the brand Gamedze had built.
The transition period has been excruciatingly painful to those who have kept the fires burning at Swallows, in particular, the ever-present General Manager, Sandile ‘Beyond 2000’ Zwane who has had to take the bitter with the sweet.
It has been a testing time for Zwane in particular as criticism of his style of management and how he is such a polarizing figure at Swallows came to the fore.
But after the storm, comes a rainbow. As of today, Mbabane Swallows is on the cusp of greatness.
A win over relegation-threatened Ezulwini United by whatever margin would mean the ribbons on the MTN league will be red and white. The Swallows of Mbabane enjoy a five-point lead at the summit of the log standings having won 13 games, drawn 10 and lost only one game the whole season.
Caleb Ngwenya’s predominantly youthful side has been gobbling victories like a Pac-man. The third highest-scoring side in the league with 40 goals and also the second least conceding team with 19 goals, the Swallows are well-deserved league champions.
But it is their mental fortitude, determination and courage which has been exceptional this season.
ALSO READ: Mbabane Swallows Duo Joins SA…
Swallows have been like the metaphorical eagle amongst pigeons, flying above their challenges. They have had the mentality of an eagle.
Many a team would have cowered into mediocrity having lost three cup finals including a 6-0 massacre at the hands of a ruthless Green Mamba in the Trade Fair Cup back in September. Losing the Ingwenyama Cup final 1-0 to the same Green Mamba side would have mentally crippled many teams.
Not Mbabane Swallows. “Ilikhuni i-Mbabane Swallows mkhulu!”, Gamedze would have reminded many of us. Indeed, being able to soldier on having also lost the MoMo Cup final on penalties to ambitious Shiselweni-based outfit Nsingizini Hotspurs, would have killed the spirit of most teams.
But not Mbabane Swallows.
Like an eagle, Swallows have been fearless and never surrendered even when they had a mountain of financial challenges.
They were tenacious and true to the eagle mentality, they possessed vitality which they demonstrated by allowing players who added no value and were a burden to the team to go.
Think of Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza, Richard McCreesh, Sanele Mkhweli and Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze. It allowed the likes of Nhlanhla Ngwenya, Leon Manyisa, Neliswa ‘Tiger’ Dlamini and Ayanda Gadlela to flourish. Even when veterans like Felix Badenhorst got injured, they converted striker Sandile Hlatshwako to defence.
One may not agree with the manner they handled the departure of long-serving captain, Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze and Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko after having served the team diligently but in life, nothing lasts forever including love. We can only hope lessons were learnt.
One factor that we need to highlight is the influence of coach Caleb Ngwenya, who was also the victim of stinging criticism from some sections of Swallows fans who even threatened to beat him after a defeat last season at the Mavuso Sports Centre.
ALSO READ: Archbishop Lukhele, Mbabane Swallows set…
Ngwenya, a disciplinarian, has worked quietly like a turtle and today, the same supporters who wanted to beat him up will be cheering for the club’s seventh league title.
Ngwenya reminds me of the exact words the all-too-powerful Orlando Pirates boss, Dr. Irvin Khoza said about the Spaniard Jose Riveiro.
Say your say ‘Iron Duke’ of South African football. “Jose is a man of few words but full of action.
Well, Riveiro, taught me what I now talk about, the power of silence. You can see he is a modest person. He doesn’t talk much. He works hard in silence and lets the results be your success. He is a hard worker behind the scenes.
But you won’t see it because he has a demeanour that belies his fortitude, attitude and work ethic.”
Khoza could very well have been talking about Caleb Ngwenya. I know he is a reporter’s nightmare because of his monosyllabic responses during interviews and you really walk on eggshells when you go to do an interview with him if his side has lost but to be honest and fair to him, he has really mellowed.
Preferring to work with youngsters, Ngwenya has built a formidable side that could go on and challenge all cups even next season. He is my choice for the coach of the season and his team has reflected his demeanour every step of the way this season – ruthless, energetic and never-say-die attitude.
Congratulations to Mbabane Swallows Football Club for winning their first league trophy since the 2017/18 season. It’s truly well deserved and one man lying beneath the red soil of Ka-Langa must be belting a trademark wall-to-wall smile.
God bless Mbabane Swallows Football Club!
Until next week, Thatha!
(Send your comments to: lwazid@rubiconmedia.group or lwazid005@gmail.com)
