A self made catastrophe in waiting

This upcoming season was supposed to be Manzini Wanderers' campaign. Fourth in the MTN Premier League and runners up in the SwaziBank Cup last season, Wanderers looked set to build on their revival going into the new season.

Last season, under Nyangayezizwe 'Crooks' Hlophe, Wanderers showed flashes of brilliance. They embodied all the signs of their revival when they beat Mbabane Highlanders in the quarterfinals of the SwaziBank Cup. Even though they eventually fell short of ending their 13 year trophy drought, the feeling was that Hlophe would take them to the promised land sooner rather than later.

But just a few weeks later, all that work put in last season is down the drain. At Wanderers they don't like order. This off-season has been dramatic. But even by Wanderers' chaotic standards, this one stands out.

From the supporters teaming up with the Council of Elders to overthrow the current Board of Directors to the long running saga of striker Kola Aledeon, Wanderers have made sure they dominate the off-season headlines for all the wrong reasons.

The Weslians will be playing in the Telecom Charity Cup on August 5, that is in about two weeks' time, and yet they are still to announce a single new signing. In contrast, their two other rivals, Highlanders and Swallows, have signed nine and five players respectively.

Wanderers only play their first serious preparatory friendly match tomorrow. Highlanders meanwhile, have already played the likes of Maritzburg United in South Africa. Swallows will have played two CAF Champions League matches by the time they play in the Charity Cup.

Wanderers' time this off-season has been spent doing the wrong things. They are busy fighting a losing battle over Aledeon whose heart is clearly with Swallows. Not just that, but the Weslians don't have any contract with the player except one sheet of paper on which he acknowledges receiving a signing on fee for the new season. Wanderers are clutching at straws.

Then there is the issue of South African businessman Mehluli Nhlengethwa who the club's powerful supporters have backed to take over the reigns. In pushing for this takeover, the supporters have gone to the extremes including writing to the Premier League of Swaziland themselves, informing the organisation of managerial changes at the club. What madness!

And then the players boycotted a whole week of training earlier this month also in support of Nhlengethwa. The players wanted the current board and coach Hlophe to go. Just incredible. 

Now, where does that leave this once great club ahead of the new season? August 5 will give us a proper hint but we can make some informed guesses. Instability has never been a recipe for success and Wanderers are likely to pay for a hugely chaotic pre-season in 2018/19.

It's a sad state of affairs. Wanderers, with all their history and huge support base should be regularly challenging for honours. But instead, the same cycle of events chew up the progress of the club time and time again. It won't be a surprise if they struggle this coming season- it's a self-made catastrophe-in-waiting.

Wanderers finished last season 18 points behind League champions Swallows and two points ahead of Highlanders. On the basis of the past few months' events, Highlanders will surpass them and that gap with Swallows will surely increase. Yema-Wazza kwenzenjani?