MBABANE – There has been a mixture of reactions after the postponement of the match week 14 round of fixtures in the MTN Premier League, which had a mouth-watering Mbabane derby.
Headlining these fixtures was the mother of all derbies in local football between capital city giants, Mbabane Swallows and Mbabane Highlanders. Another crackerjack fixture was the Shiselweni derby, which has since earned the status of one of the biggest derbies in the land. It is between log leaders Nsingizini Hotspurs and surprise package Rangers.
The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE), through the office of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pat Vilakati, announced the postponement of the MTN Premier League round 14 and match week 12 in the MulaSport National First Division (NFD). The fixtures for both leagues were penned to take place today and on Sunday in various venues across the country. They have been rescheduled to the weekend of January 10-11, 2026.
The decision follows consultations with key service providers and inspections of playing venues as stated in the official notice. “Engagements with our essential service providers have confirmed that service availability during the initially scheduled fixture dates would be limited, thereby posing a risk to the successful execution of the matches. Furthermore, inspections of the playing facilities indicated that, in the best interest of player safety and pitch preservation, it would be prudent to postpone the games,” reads part of the release by the PLE.
Meanwhile, Mbabane Swallows’ Public Relations Officer (PRO) Knowledge ‘Bhambo’ Ngwenya shared that the postponement is a blessing in disguise for them. “It’s a blessing for Swallows because the fixture didn’t have prominence,” remarked Ngwenya.
On the other hand, Mbabane Highlanders’ PRO, Khayelihle ‘Karas’ Dlamini was also reached for comment, where he stated that the postponement has little impact on their side. “It gives us more time to prepare and give our injured players more recovery time,” mentioned Dlamini.
He also touched on the second window period that is opening on January 8, 2026 that the postponement falls perfectly for them to utilise it ahead of their derby fixture, while citing that they welcome their fixture now to be played on January 10, 2026. “We welcome the 10th; we will be ready. By the time we play the game, some of the deals will have been completed with some of the players we are planning on adding to the squad,” continued Dlamini.
Shifting to the Shiselweni derby, Nsingizini PRO, Mnotfo Dlamini shared that the fixture promises fireworks. “The derby will produce fireworks, looking at how vibrant last season was. The growth over the seasons has helped make this derby grow to be one of the biggest in the country. We had prepared for the fixture and we have to respect the communication and continue to fine-tune our squad,” expressed the Nsingizini PRO.
It is worth noting that ‘Insingizi Yezulu’ are 180 minutes away from being crowned the ‘champions’ of the first stanza of the MTN Premier League season. The first-round incentive carries a E120 000 ‘carrot’ cash prize.
Furthermore, PLE stated that this short interruption in the season also provides a valuable opportunity for those involved in the game to enjoy the festive period. The league highlighted that it will allow those involved to spend time with their families. “We take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year and we look forward to seeing you at the games in January,” concluded the release.
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