Home | Sports | EXTRA E200K FOR 16-TEAM LEAGUE

EXTRA E200K FOR 16-TEAM LEAGUE

16/06/2024 16:11:00 Nimrod Hlophe

Font size:

MBABANE – Despite the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) having run a 16-club league back in the 2020/21 season, it has been learnt that some teams preferred its delayed implementation due to financial concerns.

During last week’s PLE Special Extraordinary Meeting, the majority of clubs voted to increase the number of teams from 14 to 16 for the 2025/26 season. Up to 15 out of 26 clubs favoured this option, while 11 supported its adoption for the next season (2024/25). According to sources present during the deliberations, most Board of Governors (BoGs) raised concerns about the financial cost, with the task team also noting the challenge. “The task team highlighted that a 16-club league will definitely mean the PLE needs a strong budget for match officials. The committee suggested that the costs for referees and match officials are so high and recommended future plans for the organisation to consider securing sponsors for their travel and allowances,” the source said.

During the 2022/23 season, PLE’s referees’ allowance amounted to E892 251, while when there were 16 clubs; it shot up to over a million Emalangeni. According to the PLE financial reports, referees’ allowances cost E1 084 804 during the 2021/22 season when teams were 16 in the Premier League due to COVID-19. Notably, Premier League clubs last season were to pay E40 000 each as match officials’ fees, while National First Division (NFD) clubs were expected to fork out E20 000 each. This amounted to E840 000. The PLE referees’ match allowances in the previous season stood at E400 per match per referee, according to the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) scale for the past season. The match commissioner earned E420 per match. For those in the NFD, it was E240 per match for a referee, and the match commissioner received E260.

Sponsorship

The source further revealed that the task team’s report also indicated that if the PLE were to introduce a 16-team league next season, there would be an issue of partition. “The committee said the PLE would at least have to cater from its pocket an extra E200 000 for the two additional teams, as they would not be covered under the current league sponsorship. It was mentioned that when there was no relegation, the EFA catered for the extra costs, and now the additional clubs would be PLE’s own responsibility,” the source said. It was also revealed that some members on the floor were concerned about the source of the prize money for these clubs. They stated that the additional clubs would be expected to receive some earnings at the end of the season, depending on their league log standings in both divisions. However, another source voiced concerns that the BoGs raised about the extra costs for the four additional games that would come with the increment of teams.

“They supported the second option of the committee that it should implement later with a proper implementation plan. This included negotiations with sponsors beforehand to ensure that the increased number of clubs would be included in the sponsorship. They also said club owners have to prepare themselves for such changes,” the second source said. The source revealed that the BoGs submitted that the additional two teams were not budgeted for under the current sponsorship of the leagues.

MTN Eswatini injects E6.5 million per season into the PLE, which caters for league prize monies besides individual incentives. This would mean that, besides the participation fee, clubs at the end of the season are entitled to prize money for their finishing positions. This extends to the last club, with the least ranked team in the premier league guaranteed E40 000. The lower division’s lowest earner gets E20 000. PLE has one sponsor with a running contract. MTN Eswatini’s E19.5 million deal, spanning three years, will reach its expiry date at the end of the 2024/25 season.

Negotiate

Meanwhile, the PLE is expected to negotiate the renewal of sponsorship for the Ingwenyama Cup, which is sponsored by the Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (SMVAF).
It lapsed this recent season. The PLE also runs the Trade Fair Cup, which was self-sponsored last season. PLE CEO Kenneth Makhanya had not responded to a questionnaire sent to him over the course of the week at the time of finalising this report. Nonetheless, PLE Executive Member (ExCo) Victor Rodrigues, speaking on behalf of the PLE last week after the meeting, said the organisation faced high operational costs. Rodrigues cited the running costs of the office, with referees’ expenditure cited among other things. The Malanti Chiefs boss said the clubs were responsible for the operational costs of the organisation.