The High Court ruling that dismissed Swallows (Pty) Ltd’s application and effectively affirmed Mbabane Swallows FC’s position has been widely celebrated in some quarters.
For many, the judgment has brought a sense of relief and finality to a dispute that has dragged on for months, clouding the club’s stability and distracting from what matters most – football.
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But as much as this ruling provides clarity on paper, it does not settle the deeper issues that sparked the division in the first place.
A judgment can close a case but it cannot close hearts. And any Swallows supporter who truly understands the fabric of this club knows that the real battle is not in courtrooms but in the soul of the organisation itself.
Let us be honest: this judgment does not suddenly erase the legitimacy of the concerns raised by the other faction. Judge Zonke Magagula simply ruled that Swallows (Pty) Ltd failed to prove ownership to the standard required by the High Court. That does not mean they had no point. It does not mean their arguments were baseless. It simply means the evidence was insufficient in a legal sense, not that their contribution to the club’s history, development or operations can be written off.
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Those loudly celebrating this as a total victory should pause. Deep down, they know the truth. They know the role Mbabane Swallows (Pty) Ltd played in sustaining, funding and guiding the team during different phases. They know that the human beings behind that entity are not outsiders, enemies or opportunists; they are people who have poured resources, time, and sweat tears into the ‘Birds Nest’.
The celebrations should, therefore, be tactful, thoughtful and humble because the club still needs every capable hand if it is to truly soar to the great heights that were associated with the (Pty) Ltd era.
The danger now is triumphalism. Winning ownership in court does not mean winning the hearts of the entire Swallows community. It does not mean earning full legitimacy in the eyes of every supporter. It does not mean unity will magically fall into place.
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If anything, a victory lap at this stage may deepen the wounds and entrench the factions even further. The real test is not legal. It is interpersonal. It is emotional. It is organisational.
We must not deceive ourselves, the quarrels will continue unless there is deliberate effort to build reconciliation. Anyone hoping that the High Court judgment will end infighting is fooling themselves. Conflict is not cured by a stamp on a document.
It is cured by difficult conversations, humility and a shared vision. If the club’s leadership believes this judgment marks the end, they risk missing the opportunity to mend what truly matters, which is trust.
What is needed now is respect. Respect for the ruling, yes – but also respect for the other faction. Respect for their grievances, their contribution, their history and their stake in the future of Mbabane Swallows. Respect does not undermine authority; it strengthens it. It signals maturity not weakness.
The bigger picture must now guide all decisions. Swallows is bigger than individuals, bigger than boardrooms and certainly bigger than legal technicalities.
The true Swallows people, those who genuinely care about the club’s long-term success, must start asking the hard questions:’ Where do we go from here? How do we unify the structures? How do we bring everyone back to the table? How do we focus on football again?
Because the truth is simple: the club cannot progress while split into camps. The MTN Premier League is becoming more competitive by the year and no team fighting itself can expect to fight effectively on the field.
The priority now must be healing, reconstruction and collaboration. Even the faction that ‘won’ knows it cannot rebuild this club alone. The other faction still carries influence, knowledge and support within the Swallows community.
This judgment may have closed a legal chapter but it has not closed the Swallows story. The next chapter depends on whether the two sides have the courage to set aside pride and work together. That is the only victory that truly matters.
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