MBABANE – The Eswatini Football Association EFA has purchased a GWM double-cab bakkie for Spanish coach Tomeu Perello Palou valued at over E600 000.
The Spanish coach was unveiled by EFA Chief Executive Officer CEO Frederick Mngomezulu on July 20, 2026, to spearhead FIFA’s talent pathway. He was introduced as the country’s Technical Development Scheme (TDS) tactician during a press conference at Sigwaca House.
Palou has been deployed by the International Federation of Association Football FIFA to lead the country’s football development programme which was introduced in Eswatini in 2023.
He signed a two-year contract with an option to extend. His responsibilities include overseeing and strengthening football development structures across the country with particular emphasis on talent identification and player progression.
Eswatini is one of four countries in the Confederation of African Football CAF region selected to benefit from the programme.
The FIFA Talent Academy Programme currently caters for 20 boys and girls based at Evelyn Baring School.
The players aged under 13 and under 15 were selected from across the country’s regions and will also benefit from development activities at four regional centres.
Mngomezulu, speaking after the 2026 KFC/Scara Thindwa Soccer Foundation presentation for soccer equipment which was held at Matsapha Link and Lifestyle on Thursday, revealed that the EFA has spent millions on the TDS programme which includes purchasing a brand-new vehicle for the coach.
“We have recently bought a 4×4 double-cab vehicle, for the coach so that he can travel to all corners of the country to identify players for the programme,” Mngomezulu said.
He said that apart from purchasing the vehicle the EFA has also spent money on the tuition and accommodation of the 40 players who are based at Evelyn Baring High School in Nhlangano.
“The coach will also travel with the Under-15 squad for their historic debut at the FIFA Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan,” he said.
The tournament taking place from October 24 to 30, 2026, at the Hovsan Competition Complex and Baku Crystal Hall introduces an innovative eight-versus-eight format on modified pitches with two 20-minute halves.
Designed as a two-phase tiered competition nations will compete in 32 initial round-robin groups before being funnelled into six performance tiers ranging from Tier A to Tier F.
The acquisition of the vehicle was also confirmed by an EFA executive member who revealed that it cost over E600 000 and is a GWM vehicle though it is yet to be handed over to him pending completion of the paperwork.
“Yes, it is true the EFA has bought a vehicle for the coach but he is yet to receive it as he currently is using the one that was used by former Sihlangu coach Logarusic,” the EFA ExCo member said.
He also clarified that the EFA obtained the funds from FIFA after requesting a loan to buy the car.
It is worth noting that the coach has already hit the ground running as he was part of the squad that brought home a silver medal at the 2026 Confederation of School Sport Associations of Southern Africa (COSSASA) Games held in Bulawayo Zimbabwe.
According to Auto Trader, a new GWM double-cab bakkie in South Africa ranges from approximately E435 950 to E999 900 for brand-new configurations, while live AutoTrader listings span from E344 900 up to E999 900, depending on whether you choose the utility-focused P300 or the premium P500.
