ABOUT E3M NEW KO FOR PLE!

MBABANE – It is not a secret that there will be new sponsors joining the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) for the knockout tournaments.

After two years without any knockouts, just the MTN Premier League and MTN National First Division League for clubs to play for, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel. At least the PLE has confidence that teams will have more competitions in the upcoming season and also 100 per cent of spectatorship allowed back into the stadia after government relaxed COVID-19 restrictions in April this year. Only COVID-19 vaccinated fans were allowed into the stadia last season, and in limited numbers.

“We’re still in talks with our sponsors but tournaments are returning with new sponsors coming in. We will have four knockouts on top of the league. Once everything is finalised, we will launch the tournaments,” PLE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenneth Makhanya said on national radio, Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS) during their Sport Show on Monday morning. Impeccable sources then shared with this publication that Makhanya was on point with his optimism ahead of the coming season, because one of the new knockouts ‘had a package of E3 million’ and it could even increase once the parties involved agree on the type of tournament, as it is either the Trade Fair Cup or the Charity Cup.

Contract

“Yes, we do have a new sponsor, but I don’t have the contract in my hand yet as they’re also still having it undergo certain channels otherwise we’re going to launch once everything is ready. What’s important at this point is that we’re talking to sponsors and teams must be getting ready to resume the season,” Makhanya said when called yesterday. Makhanya had also informed teams in their annual general meeting (AGM) over a week ago at Sigwaca House about the knockouts including new sponsors, but did not mention names. “Yes, the CEO told us our executive committee was finishing up talks with sponsors for knockout tournaments as well as the MTN sponsorship for the league,” said one club owner in the elite league while expressing excitement they would have more money to compete for after a dry two seasons due to COVID-19.

The pandemic which saw major knockouts like the EswatiniBank Cup and Ingwenyama Cup, both with over E1m prize package for champions fall out of the local football calendar.
Both are expected back in the upcoming 2022/23 football season, along with two new tournaments, being the Trade Fair Cup and Charity Cup. The latter had been sponsored by Eswatini Telecom over the years until 2019, but the company has asked to be excluded for now. The new sponsor’s representative was also sought for the second time since our sources leaked the news and they did not deny it. “PLE will be in touch with you for something on Friday,” responded the representative who is deliberately not named.

League

The source said they would be announcing something this Friday without divulging details.  The PLE is also currently in talks over the new league sponsorship package after last season’s one-year renewal of a E6 million package expired. MTN Eswatini sponsors both elite and first division leagues.

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