MBABANE – From a number of venues to use this upcoming season, the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) has set its sight on Somhlolo National Stadium.
The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) has expanded its top-flight competition from 14 to 16 clubs, meaning more venues will be needed to host matches for both the MTN Premier League and the National First Division (NFD) during the 2025/26 season.
According to sources, the organisation has applied to use 12 venues, including the country’s main stadium, Somhlolo. The application for Somhlolo was made after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) gave it partial approval to host international games following an inspection last month. “Somhlolo is one of the safest venues to host high-stakes games and it has high security to minimise violence in stadiums,” a source said.
It was also revealed that some of the most chaotic scenes last season were witnessed at open grounds. Fan misconduct at these venues resulted in hefty fines for the clubs involved.
The source further disclosed that the PLE, also agreed with its members that using Somhlolo would increase revenue. Clubs had previously complained that the venue’s unavailability for domestic games was costing them money. “Some clubs are forced to play outside their territory, which costs them their fan base. It’s much cheaper for fans to travel to a stadium within their proximity than to venues far away,” the source added.
Meanwhile, PLE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pat Vilakati clarified that it is standard practice to write to all possible venue owners, requesting permission to use their facilities and for the upcoming season. He said this was not only for league games but for all competitions the organisation will hold.
Vilakati said the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs was engaged with optimism that the PLE would be given permission to use Somhlolo if the renovations have been concluded.
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