New Richards Bay midfielder Tlakusani Mthethwa has opened up about the events that led to his departure from Moroka Swallows, a club that subsequently sold to Marumo Gallants.

Mthethwa, who signed with Swallows at the start of the 2019/20 season, spent five seasons with the club. However, his time at the now-defunct Soweto club ended on a sour note due to crippling financial problems during the 2023/24 season.

These issues manifested in a dispute with players over unpaid salaries, leading to protests and the abandonment of two league matches against Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns. Despite over 20 players leaving the club due to these issues, Mthethwa remained.

Reflecting on the situation, Mthethwa suggests that a lack of sponsorship significantly impacted the team. “Maybe I would suggest if they had a sponsor, maybe something would be much better for the team going forward because it’s a big team as well,” Mthethwa said.

Reports indicate that the former Swallows leadership, despite the club essentially ceasing to exist with the sale of its status, has not settled outstanding player salaries.

When asked about his unpaid wages, Mthethwa adopts a pragmatic approach. “If you were professional enough during your time while playing, if it comes in it will come in but if it doesn’t, I don’t want to fight for something I don’t have because Swallows is not there anymore,” he said.

Now at Richards Bay, the 30-year-old highlights the importance of financial security as he approaches retirement. “As much as I hate to see Swallows go, but for a player when he retires and he has nothing in his pocket, you know how the community talks about players after retirement that we chowed all our investments,” he said.  

Mthethwa looks forward to a brighter future with Richards Bay, a revitalized club that recently secured a lucrative R100 million sponsorship deal for the next three years.