Walter Mokoena rejects Swallows committee’s claim to a role in new club project

Former sports broadcaster and businessman Walter Mokoena says he does not recognise the Dube Birds Supporters and Shareholders Steering Committee, which has asked for answers about the newly formed Moroka Swallows SC.

The committee, established two years ago through the ‘Bring Back The Birds’ project, said it had mobilised support and pursued sponsorship and investment in an effort to revive Moroka Swallows.

It expressed disappointment at not being consulted about the new initiative and stated that it was not involved in the establishment announced by Mokoena.

The group said it had appointed a “fact-finding delegation” to seek clarity on its position in the club’s future and to request an urgent meeting with Mokoena and representatives of Moroka Swallows SC.

“The Steering Committee has resolved to establish a fact-finding delegation to seek an urgent engagement with Mr Walter Mokoena and representatives of Moroka Swallows SC,” part of the statement read.

KickOff contacted Mokoena through Moroka Swallows legend Steve Sekano, who explained that Mokoena’s position was that the steering committee had no recognised connection to his project.

Sekano said Mokoena had instead approached former Swallows players and invited them to participate in the new initiative.

“I can tell you now we’re part of that team, because he called all the legends, myself, Ace Mnini, Andries Mpondo, to say ‘Guys this is what I’m doing, I want you here because you are the legends of the team, I want you to come on board so we work together,’” Sekano told KickOff.

After speaking to Mokoena, Sekano said the businessman questioned the committee’s role and argued that its original mandate had not resulted in the club’s return.

“I just got off a call with Walter now, he says ‘what is he going to say’? The Steering Committee, who are they, because they were given a task to bring back Moroka Swallows but they did not do that. Walter did this by himself,” Sekano said.

According to Sekano, Mokoena also maintained that he had never been introduced to the committee and therefore did not know who represented it.

“He says what is he going to say with the Steering Committee, because he does not know the Steering Committee, nobody introduced Steering Committee to him. He does not know the Steering Committee,” Sekano relayed.