MBABANE – The High Court has granted temporary relief in the leadership dispute at Mbabane Swallows, ensuring that the club’s much-anticipated match against Green Mamba goes ahead today.

The conflict, involving rival factions within the club, had escalated earlier this week when Mbabane Swallows F.C. (Pty) Ltd, led by former legend and current director Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko, filed an urgent application. The applicants sought to block the team from participating in Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) fixtures until an ongoing arbitration at the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) is resolved.

In their application, the group requested that the PLE (second respondent) be barred from engaging Swallows until the arbitration concludes. The EFA is the third respondent, while club president Absalom Ngwenya was cited as the first respondent.

The case, heard yesterday by Judge Zonke Magagula, was adjourned in the morning to allow him time to study late submissions. By afternoon, the judge urged both sides to agree on an interim arrangement to prevent disruption of the team’s league fixtures.

Judge Magagula stressed that since both parties were fighting over an “ongoing concern”, it would be premature to rule on legal technicalities. He proposed that the substantive hearing be postponed to Wednesday next week, allowing today’s fixture to go ahead without legal obstacles. [Images: Times of Eswatini]