INGWENYAMA CUP LIVE ON SUPERSPORT

MBABANE – The Ingwenyama Cup will engage millions of football fans, live on SuperSport from Somhlolo National Stadium this Sunday.

The grand finale, pitting Royal Leopard against Moneni Pirates, promises a heady blend of top-tier football and Eswatini’s vibrant cultural tapestry – an irresistible draw for fans and neutrals alike.

A showdown between Ingwenyama Women Knockout finalists Nsingizini Ladies and Young Buffaloes adds an extra layer of excitement to the festivities.

Well-informed insiders revealed that the Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund (SMVAF), the tournament’s heavyweight sponsor, has been locked in marathon talks with SuperSport to secure the broadcast deal.

“It’s been non-stop, back-to-back meetings to get this over the line,” a source close to the negotiations confided.

According to the latest update from reliable sources, the deal is in its final throes, with a decisive sit-down slated for this afternoon to hammer out the last details. If all goes to plan, Eswatini TV will also tap into SuperSport’s live feed, ensuring local viewers do not miss a kick.

This is not just a win for the bean counters – it is a golden ticket for Eswatini football. With SuperSport’s reach spanning 49 African nations – from South Africa’s bustling townships to Nigeria’s teeming cities and Kenya’s football-mad plains – the Ingwenyama Cup could become a household name beyond Eswatini’s borders.

exposure

“The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) and Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) are set for a massive boost in exposure,” the source added.

“For SuperSport, it’s fresh, compelling content to keep their viewers hooked – a proper win-win.”

Last year’s final, a soggy but spirited affair, saw SuperSport cameras roll as over 10 000 fans packed the country’s footballing cathedral to witness Mbabane Swallows slug it out with Green Mamba. The latter clinched it, thanks to a nerveless penalty from Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa, a moment etched in local lore. That broadcast proved the tournament’s pulling power, and this year’s edition looks to up the ante.

growth

Nkosilenhle ‘Makawosi’ Masuku, the Ingwenyama Cup’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), expressed that SuperSport has been integral to the tournament since its inception, significantly contributing to its growth and success.
“We are eagerly anticipating this final, which will also showcase cultural elements, to be aired live on SuperSport. We hope that all stakeholders, including the sponsor SMVAF, the Eswatini Football Association (EFA), and the Premier League (PLE), will ensure the continuation of our partnership with SuperSport this year.”

SuperSport’s muscle in the African game is no secret. The MultiChoice-owned broadcaster pumps out bespoke feeds for South Africa and Nigeria, while a ‘Rest of Africa’ signal blankets the other 47 Sub-Saharan nations, including Eswatini. With over 3.5 million households and 10 million viewers in its grip, it’s a juggernaut that could catapult the Ingwenyama Cup into the continental consciousness.

The stakes are higher than ever this time around. On November 21, 2024, the tournament was officially relaunched with a hefty E15 million sponsorship from SMVAF, spread over three years at E5 million per season. That is a tidy E3 million bump from the previous three-year cycle (E12 million at E4 million annually) and a far cry from the initial E9 million deal struck back in 2015. All told, SMVAF’s investment now clocks in at a cool E36 million—a ringing endorsement of the Cup’s growing stature. The champions will take home E1.45 million.

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