In a heartfelt return to its roots, Mbabane Highlanders have announced a grand gesture to honour the legends, families and supporters who have shaped its remarkable 73-year journey.
The club have organised a Thanksgiving Luncheon to be held on July 5, at St Mark’s, celebrating the stalwarts who contributed immensely to the club’s storied legacy.
The event was launched at the very location where the club was founded in 1952, the Eswatini College of Technology (ECOT) and symbolises a return to the spirit and community from which Highlanders was born. The luncheon is open to the public, with VIP tickets going for E350 and general access tickets for E250.
Tickets will be available at various outlets countrywide.
The initiative, which has received the blessing of the club’s patrons, is spearheaded by an organising committee that includes Elvis Mndlovu, Nelsiwe Ginindza, Bheki Jele, Webster Simelane, Fortune Nxumalo, Senzo Malaza and Enock Ndaba. At the ECOT launch, prominent patrons such as Mabili Dlamini, Moi Moi Masilela, Charles ‘Ace’ Jele, Benson Dlamini and Mabuza were in attendance to support the noble endeavour.
Committee member Elvis Mndlovu confirmed that several iconic figures in the club’s history have already committed to attending the luncheon. These include Zambia-born midfield maestro Jani ‘Be Good’ Simulambo and Zwelonke ‘Sport’ Dlamini, among others. Their attendance is expected to draw nostalgic fans and rekindle memories of Highlanders’ golden years.
Mndlovu also expressed deep appreciation to the patrons who recently assumed control of the club from South African businessman Ally Kgomongwe.
He described the handover as ‘rescuing the club from the other side of a crocodile-infested river,’ a vivid metaphor capturing the precarious state the club found itself in under foreign ownership. Highlanders are now under the leadership of former club legend Bheki ‘Rubber’ Simelane, who has returned for a second stint as club president. His stewardship is viewed as a stabilising force, deeply rooted in the club’s traditions and values.
However, not all in the Highlanders camp are aligned with the upcoming event. Acting Club Chairman Mandla Simelane distanced the current management from the luncheon, stating that they were not consulted or involved in the planning.
“I did receive calls regarding the proposed lunch, but there has been no formal meeting between the patrons and current management about it,” Simelane said when questioned about the absence of club officials at the launch.
Despite this, acting patrons chairman Moses Dlamini insisted that both Bheki and Mandla Simelane were contacted and invited.
“Actually, they were invited to this launch, and we were expecting them or at least a representative,” he said.
Supporting the initiative, patron Moi Moi Masilela clarified that the luncheon was an idea initiated by supporters and fully backed by the patrons. He stressed the importance of recognising the club’s trailblazers and maintaining a strong connection with Highlanders’ heritage.
