Times Of Swaziland: OVER E1.5M FOR  TRADE FAIR CUP

OVER E1.5M FOR  TRADE FAIR CUP
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Ashmond Nzima on 06/08/2024 07:53:00


MBABANE – The Trade Fair Cup is set to continue this year with a revised
purse.
There was uncertainty surrounding the tournament, following the delay in
announcing the sponsor and related logistics. The Premier League of Eswatini
(PLE) had budgeted at least E3 million and hoped the Ministry Of Commerce,
Industry and Trade would assist in clinching a deal. Fresh reports suggest it
will be sponsored to the tune of between E1.5 million and E2 million. The last
edition was self-sponsored with E1 million and champions Green Mamba got E300
000. The 2024 edition to be played during the period of the Eswatini
International Trade Fair (EITF) is set to get underway at Mavuso Sports Centre,
on September 2.
Deliberated
“A PLE team led by Chairman Mark Carmichael, PLE Head of Marketing Sibusiso
Nxumalo, Executive member Sibusiso Nxumalo and Football Manager Petros Vilakati
met the Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Mancoba Khumalo and deliberated
on the matter last Thursday. “The PLE had proposed a E3 million sponsorship
for the Trade Fair Cup. However, the sponsor is a bit comfortable with an amount
of E2 million. Nothing has been finalised yet,” shared an impeccable source
close to the matter.
The sponsor is kept a secret until the finalisation of the matter. The parties
are currently racing against time in clinching the deal. Apparently, the
Carmichael-led Executive wants to deliver this sponsorship before the elective
general assembly on Saturday. “The minister was met and discussions were had.
However, we are still in negotiations with sponsors,” was all Vilakati could
say.