Moneni Pirates president Thulani Xaba has spoken about embattled Royal AM boss Shauwn Mkhize’s presence at the Ingwenyama Cup final over the weekend. Popularly known as MaMkhize, the businesswoman attended Sunday’s final at Somhlolo National Stadium, joining His Majesty King Mswati III and a crowd of over 10,000 to witness the clash between Moneni Pirates and Royal Leopard.
Royal Leopard secured a narrow 1-0 victory in a hard-fought match, thanks to Thokozani ‘Thikithi’ Dlamini’s solitary goal.
MaMkhize, who was clad in Pirates colours, ignited speculation regarding a possible connection with Pirates. Leading daily, Times of Swaziland, quoted her as saying: “I wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t something happening.”
WHAT XABA SAID ABOUT SHAUWN MKHIZE’S VISIT
Xaba has disclosed that he did not have any communication with the KwaZulu-Natal businesswoman, who was accompanied by her son, Andile Mpisane.
“Personally, as the team’s director, I haven’t spoken to or met her,” Xaba told FARPost. “There’s nothing that has been spoken from my end to me…. I think it’s just more mileage for her socials. As for the team, nothing has been spoken to us about her.”
Xaba further said Pirates were a community team and it wasn’t “a decision for an individual to engage and not to engage.” He, however, appeared to suggest that MaMkhize, who is on the verge of losing Royal AM due to her tax issues with SARS, was not the type of partner they would be willing to engage with.
“Not necessarily because she doesn’t have a team,” he said. “As the president of the team, I would want to partner … but what growth can she add? What value can she add to the team? I would look at a strategic value-add partner that will say, ‘Look, I’ve got five midfielders, but I can’t field all in one game. I need to send them to you to get game time. And then, obviously, from my end, feed into the South African market for exposure and possibly sell. That is what I would look into.”
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