TOP RANKING FOR ‘BULL’

MBABANE - The Ingwenyama Cup Management Committee (MC) has provided clarification regarding the criteria for selecting teams for the grand opening fixture.
The committee highlighted the importance of fan attendance in the decision-making process. This announcement comes in response to concerns regarding the exclusion of reigning champions Green Mamba from the main fixture of the 2024/25 Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund (SMVAF) competition, which commenced last weekend.
The official opening fixtures featured Ludzeludze Killers hosting last season’s runners-up, Mbabane Swallows, in the curtain-raiser match. In another fixture, Lozitha Spurs clashed with Mbabane Highlanders. It is noteworthy that both city giants were included in the grand opening fixtures in the previous edition, while the two-time champions were absent from both main opening events.

clarified

MC Chairman Dr Comfort Shongwe clarified that there is no established criterion mandating the inclusion of defending champions in the opening fixture. He stated: “First and foremost, we have to say there is no such criterion that says defending champions have to play in the grand opening fixture. We must agree on that. There’s no such requirement anywhere in competitions.” Shongwe also explained that the committee usually budgets for the expenses of the fixture. “We have an estimated expenditure, and we experience a shortfall because the administration fee for the tournament is significantly below what it actually costs to meet our needs,” he noted. The national administration fee for the E5 million tournament at the national phase is E300 000.

Despite these financial challenges, Shongwe mentioned that the committee assesses the crowd-pulling power of teams based on records from the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE). “We look at teams that have been successful in attracting fans to the stadium. We found that Highlanders and Swallows lead in this regard, followed by Nsingizini Hotspurs, Moneni Pirates and Royal Leopard, although attendance can fluctuate,” he explained.

significant

Additionally, the selection process takes into account the marketability of the fixtures. “The venue is also a significant factor, as it indicates accessibility for a larger audience,” he added. In the absence of Somhlolo National Stadium, Mavuso Sports Centre is deemed the best-performing venue, followed by King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium and Mayaluka Stadium. Shongwe acknowledged that Mkhuzweni Technical Centre is still developing, much like KaLanga, which relies heavily on its fixtures. “It doesn’t mean that defending champions will never be featured in the grand opening fixture; they could be crowd-pullers, or teams with low attendance could improve their numbers and thus be selected in the future,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Green Mamba, Mandla Sibiya, expressed concern about their absence from the grand opening event. Sibiya stated that they wish to be part of the global trend where defending champions are included in the main fixtures of competitions. He acknowledged that while they formally raised their concern last season, they opted not to do so this time. It is important to note that there is no global rule mandating the inclusion of defending champions in the grand opening fixtures of football competitions. While some leagues may prioritise tradition and include the champions, others may focus on factors such as marketability and revenue generation, including ticket sales and sponsorship. For instance, in the English Premier League (EPL), the opening fixtures often feature a mix of traditional rivalries and matches involving newly-promoted teams.

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