Swallows collapse not a bad thing – former player

FORMER Moroka Swallows man Tlakusani Mthethwa believes the club’s demise is “not a bad” thing for football considering its financial woes.

The Dube Birds recently sold their DStv Premiership status to Marumo Gallants.

Marumo confirmed in a statement that Swallows had been bought and the club would relocate to Bloemfontein, closing a very difficult chapter to the Soweto giants’ top flight journey.

The club’s lowest point in the 2023/2024 season was their failure to pay salaries at the halfway point of the season in January, which led to a player’s strike and the exit of some players.

One of the players affected by the situation at the club was midfielder Mthethwa, who was in his fourth season at the Dobsonville Stadium-based club.

After being unveiled at Richards Bay as one of six new signings ahead of the new season, Mthethwa got his first chance to dissect his Swallows woes in the presence of the media.

The 31-year-old cut a refreshed figure and said that perhaps it was not such a bad thing the Dube Birds were sold, considering the difficulties they endured as players and the uncertainty it caused for their livelihoods.

“About the team being sold, at first I was not happy because maybe if they had a sponsor, it would’ve been much better for them going forward because it’s a big team as well,” said Mthethwa.

“Finance wise, for other players as well as myself, maybe it’s a good thing that it happened (the club was sold).

“As much as I hate to see Swallows go, but for a player to retire and they have nothing, we know how the community talks about players after retirement, that we chowed all of our investment.”

He also explained that he would not be eager to pursue any monies owed to him by the club, considering it is now defunct.

“That question is for someone who is busy looking for that money (whether he had received all money due to him), if you were professional enough during your playing time than you’re just gonna sit and wait for that money and if it comes in, then fine, because Swallows isn’t there anymore,” he said.

Mthethwa joins a Natal Rich Boyz side eager to step away from the tag of “relegation candidates” and have been boosted with a new R100-million sponsorship.

He explained that he felt he needed a change of scenery and said he honestly does not see the KwaZulu-Natal based outfit battling for their lives again next season.

“I needed a fresh start away from Gauteng, so I decided to come here... I said, let me go and have a fresh start in a different environment,” he said.

“Looking at the structure they have implemented now, I don’t see ourselves fighting for relegation.

“We have good signings and I’m here to work and ensure the team doesn’t go where it was before. Even last season, they had good players; we have to work hard to achieve our objective.”