Lebohang Mokoena makes shocking revelation about his Swallows stint
Ex-Moroka Swallows captain Lebohang Mokoena has made shocking revelations about his stint at the ‘Dube Birds’.
The former Orlando Pirates star played a significant role in helping Maswaiswai gain promotion to the SA top-flight league from the National First Division during the 2019/20 season.
In their first season back in the SA elite league, Swallows finished sixth on the table and subsequently qualified for the 2021 MTN8 tournament.
Fast forward, to the 2023/24 season, things took a different turn, with the club facing financial woes that led to a players’.
The unresolved dispute over the non-payment of salaries between the players and management led to the club pulling the plug on their DStv Premiership [now known as Betway Premiership] matches against Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows in December 2023.
As a result, Swallows were charged by the PSL Disciplinary Committee [DC] for misconduct and for bringing the league into disrepute.
WHAT DID LEBOHANG MOKOENA SAY ABOUT HIS STINT AT SWALLOWS?
Mokoena stated that they were given a document that stipulated that the side would not be responsible for any injuries suffered during training, an official match, or as a result of an accident.
‘Cheeseboy,’ as he is well known to many, went on to reveal that the financial crisis at the club did start not only last season but also in other seasons since their return to the top-flight, and it only took one phone call to be out of the for standing up for the players.
“At one stage, people don’t know this, myself and Vuyo Mere, Swallows gave us a document which stated the club will not be liable for any injuries suffered in training or an official match,” said Mokoena on Radio 2000 on Tuesday night.
“It also said that if we travel by bus and get involved in an accident and people die, the club will not take full responsibility. So, how do I let players sign that?”
“It was really tough. It looked easy when you saw me on the field. But we had a financial crisis. I as a captain had to step up for the guys so they can make it to the game.”
Mokoena continued: It’s not nice at the PSL level having a team not to come to a match. I spoke to the guys let’s go honour the fixture and we will come back to talk about other things when we come back.
“For now, let’s talk to the chairman [David Mogashoa] about whether he can give us half [of our salaries] so we can cover our responsibilities as well. And after that effort, it was just a phone and I was gone.”
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