MBABANE — The road to PLE Charity Cup glory promises fireworks.
Mbabane Highlanders prepare to renew their fierce rivalry with Mbabane Swallows in a derby loaded with pride and bragging rights. The stage is set for a blockbuster showdown after the official draw was conducted at Sigwaca House on Wednesday, October 28, with the capital city giants headlining the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Charity Cup.
The clash will bring down the curtain at Mavuso Sports Centre at 4:15pm, following the curtain-raiser between Green Mamba and Ubombo Sugar. The elite league winners of the tournament will pocket E1 million.
Under the leadership of flamboyant South African businesswoman Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize, Highlanders will be eager to maintain their recent dominance over their bitter rivals.
Inkunz’emnyama inflicted a humiliating 4–0 defeat on Umkhonto KaShaka in the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup pre-season tournament before edging them 1–0 in their last league meeting on May 17, 2026.
The revived Charity Cup received a major boost in July when the PLE secured a lucrative E1.5 million sponsorship package, paving the way for its return after a lengthy absence. The tournament was last staged in 2019.
Highlanders were the last team to lift the trophy, defeating Manzini Wanderers 3–1 in the final at Somhlolo National Stadium under the EswatiniTelecom sponsorship banner.
The ‘Weslians’, however, will not feature this time after failing to reach the required voting threshold, having collected fewer than 200 votes.
All 32 PLE clubs were eligible to participate in the voting process, with the top six Premier League sides advancing to the tournament proper.
The play-offs are scheduled for November 1, with the semi-finals and final set for November 8. The dates were adjusted from the original September 27 and October 4 schedule to accommodate FIFA fixtures involving the national youth squad.
In the National First Division (NFD), the two highest-voted clubs will battle it out on finals day, with E200 000 allocated to the competition. Clubs were expected secure at least 10 000 votes to qualify. The winners stand to collect more than E100 000.
Beyond the football spectacle, proceeds from the tournament will go directly to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and charitable bodies. More recently, the MoMo Cup adopted a similar voting format, with Nsingizini winning the competition back-to-back.
Now, with the Charity Cup back on the calendar, Highlanders and Swallows have another opportunity to settle scores on the pitch while competing for a cause beyond football.
