MBABANE – Capital city giants Mbabane Highlanders will receive a major financial boost ahead of their historic debut in the prestigious Prince Mangosuthu Legacy Cup.
Highlanders are the third local team to compete in the tournament, joining rivals Nsingizini Hotspurs and Mbabane Swallows.
This comes after the ‘Bull’ were confirmed as the surprise package of the 2026 edition, which was officially launched at the Garden Court at Ulundi in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province yesterday.
Highlanders have been drawn against local rivals Nsingizini Hotspurs in what is being billed as a mouth-watering ‘Eswatini derby’ on foreign soil.
The Shiselweni-based Hotspurs are the co-defending champions of the tournament, having shared the trophy with South African side AmaZulu FC last year after torrential rain left the pitch at the Prince Mangosuthu Regional Stadium waterlogged.
Hotspurs, led by South African tactician Mandla Qhogi, enter the tournament on a high after securing a historic domestic treble last season.
At the launch, Hotspurs were represented by Head of Marketing and former Miss Eswatini Nozipho Shabangu, amid growing reports that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Banele Ngobe is exiting the defending league champions.
Speaking after the draw, Shabangu joked about the fierce rivalry between the two teams, which has historically been marred by crowd trouble, but promised organisers that both sides would exhibit exemplary sportsmanship.
“We are promising a top-drawer clash, with both teams set to bring plenty of supporters to Ulundi as we both have huge fanbases back home,” Shabangu said, while thanking the organisers for continuing to invite clubs from Eswatini to honour the late Statesman.
The highly-anticipated local derby is scheduled to kick off at noon. It will be preceded by the opening match at 9am between South African Betway Premiership side AmaZulu FC, who finished fourth in the 2025/26 campaign and regional SAFA ABC Motsepe League side Ulundi United. The winners of both semi-finals will clash for the coveted trophy at 4pm.
Established in 2017 by then-Usuthu owner Patrick Sokhela and Mamelodi Sundowns President Patrice Motsepe, the tournament has hosted various African giants over the years, including Mamelodi Sundowns, who famously crashed out in the 2018 semi-finals against AmaZulu. The inaugural 2017 trophy was won by the now-defunct Bloemfontein Celtic. In a fascinating twist of football fate, Celtic later sold their South African top-flight status to businesswoman Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize, who now runs the Mbabane Highlanders brand in Eswatini.
Notably, Highlanders unveiled a new highly-rated South African coach ahead of the fixture in Ezulwini yesterday. Former Mamelodi Sundowns scout Floyd Mogale has replaced his departed countryman Selaotse ‘Sly’ Mosala. The latter joined Moneni Pirates.
Mogale has signed a three-year contract and has been handed a clear mandate to restore the ‘Bull’ to their former glory by winning trophies and securing qualification for continental football. “Mbabane Highlanders, as I know, is a big team… I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t told the ambition of this team is to go to the Champions League,” said the new coach.
Mogale, affectionately nicknamed ‘Mourinho’ in South African football circles, is a highly respected, well-travelled local tactician and youth development specialist. Known for his outspoken and direct approach to player progression, Mogale has built a reputation as one of the country’s most observant talent spotters.
He served as a scout for Mamelodi Sundowns from February 2016 until November 2020. During his tenure with the Chloorkop-based giants, he was instrumental in tracking, assessing and introducing some of the region’s finest young talents into the club’s youth structures. A notable story from his scouting career emerged regarding Relebohile Mofokeng. Mogale revealed that Sundowns scouts had identified the future Orlando Pirates superstar in Sharpeville when he was only 12 years old.
