THE empire has not fallen.
Local football is not complete without the membership of the mighty Manzini Wanderers, who are members of the ‘Big Three’ without any doubt.
For a club to be big, it is measured by its fan base, which is fundamental, followed by its success, which includes silverware.
Even a small club can still win a cup with a fan base of 23 people and that does not mean the club is big and it will never be unless you amass a support base, which is very critical.
Liweseli remains the most followed club in the country, together with the great institution of Mbabane Highlanders AM FC and the ‘Beautiful Birds’.
These three giants are being followed by Moneni Pirates and Nsingizini Hotspurs, who continue to add value to our football.
The traditional big clubs have worked hard to be where they are through their vigorous vusela exercise in the four regions of the country, which has resulted in their huge fan base.
To be in the elite league does not make a club big and that is why many remain small yet they are in the elite league because they have forgotten to build their own fan base across the country, which is a bad mistake for football.
This laziness brings nothing to the sport and the league in terms of revenue.
These teams become parasites as they always want to co-host with the big teams that they sometimes label as ‘old teams’ of recognised status, despite being the big backbone of local football.
Manzini Sea Birds are heading in the right direction as they are already building their own empire through the establishment of national branches in Nkoyoyo, Kwaluseni, Lomahasha and Nhlangano.
Soon they will reap the reward by joining the bracket of the Big Five.
And in all honesty, if teams have no followers, they will forever remain small.
In South Africa, there are Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.
With or without success, you cannot compare Amakhosi with Kruger United and Sekhukhune United.
Manzini Wanderers have demonstrated leadership maturity by maintaining their identity despite relegation.
To trade in another name could have been a worse disaster to their thousands of fans, their partners and a betrayal to both the living and the dead of their supporters who built and moulded this great empire.
This is a very expensive brand that could never be measured by the current situation which the club is facing.
We have one of the greatest clubs in the world such as Juventus getting relegated from Italian Serie A and still maintaining its identity and bouncing back strongly.
Football is indeed littered with tales of fallen giants but it also offers blueprints of resurrection.
When Mbabane Highlanders were relegated to the National First Division, it sent shockwaves through the football world, yet rather than collapsing into an irreversible situation, the mighty Black Bull as affectionately known by its fans, used that opportunity to restructure its administration and bounced back stronger in the elite league.
For Liweseli, the eight-month period in the second tier is nothing; you will not participate in the league only as you will be present in other tournaments such as the prestigious Ingwenyama Cup and Charity Cup.
The ‘Weslians’ relegation should not be viewed as a curse but as an opportunity to reflect and build from a strong foundation.
You are lucky to have a strong technical bench led by one of the seasoned and best home-grown coaches Musa Manyatsi and the veteran Nyanga Çrooks’ Hlophe, who will also assist in the administration of the club.
I also appeal for unity from those associated with this great club, from the Council down to the supporters, if they want a quick return to the elite league where they belong.
It is only small minds who celebrate the Manzini Wanderers relegation because a strong Wanderers will eventually make a strong Sihlangu Semnikati.
The non-performing Sihlangu is a result of the drastic decline in the ‘Big Three’s performance. It is the responsibility of everyone in our football industry to ensure that the Big Three is supported by every possible means in order to sustain our football.
