Thabang Lehoko, via email

I feel for the Dube Birds. I believe most of us did not see their financial problems coming. Having said so, I think the PSL is also to blame for this mess for refusing or rejecting some companies from sponsoring some professional clubs who, by all means, need sponsors to run their teams. The R2.5 million monthly grant is peanuts if we are talking about running a professional soccer club. Moroka Swallows apparently spend R4.2 million monthly on salaries, which means Ntate Mogashoa must make a plan from his coffers to break even. The PSL must stop interfering in the potential sponsorship deals of teams that are affiliated and playing under their umbrella. Such actions are actually putting most teams at a disadvantage. Regarding the two games that Swallows didn’t play over the festive season, the management issued a statement saying the players refused to train because they wanted to be paid early. That’s blatant lies on the part of management. They were supposed to come with solutions to their dilemma and stop pointing fingers at the players. Maybe for interest’s sake, may I ask where is Lesufi and what role is he playing currently, if any? I’m afraid Mogashoa might do a Max Tshabalala with Swallows sooner or later if the status quo remains. Second question, I see Upington City is driven in a nice blue luxury bus bearing the name of their club. Allegations are that some funds that bought that bus were meant for Swallows. If that’s the case, I rest my case with the hierarchy of the Dube Birds. When all is said and done, I wish Swallows the best. We can’t afford to have them relegated again, or sold and suffer the same fate as our beloved Siwelele sa Masele. Here’s hoping someone out there will assist Mogashoa to do what is best for Swallows. Mompati Panyaza Ndlovu, Lekubu village, Zeerust

First and foremost, compliments of the New Year to all members of the Soccer Laduma family. Let’s hope this year is a year of prosperity. It breaks my heart to see the beautiful Dube Birds being derailed midflight like this. At some point, Swallows secured a lucrative sponsorship deal from Telkom, which would have enabled them to run their team professionally, but the PSL top dogs denied them that opportunity, stating a lousy excuse of a clash of interests with rival sponsor MTN. But what amazes me is that two top teams in the PSL are sponsored by a rival sponsor, which is Vodacom. Correct me if I am wrong because Vodacom and MTN are rivals. How come when Telkom comes into the picture it’s a clash of interests? Now Swallows are suffering, they are on the brink of forfeiting six points, plus the players’ careers are in danger because the R2 million that each PSL club is getting is not enough to run a topflight side without a sponsor. What hurts me is that players like Andile Jali and Gabadinho Mhango don’t come cheap. So, it is not surprising to hear that the chairman wants to put up the ‘For Sale’ sign. But my advice to him is to please fight for the Telkom sponsorship. South African football, with all its politics, is not immune to controversy. Not so long ago, Cape Town City were nearly deprived of a sponsorship from FNB, with the same excuse used as they said there was a clash of interests with Nedbank. But City stood up for their rights and they are still sponsored by FNB. Ja, well, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Boitumelo Vanrooyen, Schweizer-Reneke