MBABANE – Millions spent!
The investment has hit fever pitch as the eight edition of the Ingwenyama Cup sponsored by Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund (SMVAF) marks a E31 million sponsorshiup into football since its inception.
The tournament is unique for its fusion of football and Eswatini traditional culture, it continues to break new ground. In a historic move during the previous edition, the competition opened its doors to women’s football, integrating the ladies’ game for the first time since the tournament’s debut in the 2015/16 season.
The ‘marriage’ between the SMVAF and the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) began with a three-year deal worth E9 million, where each edition carried a E3 million purse. During that initial phase, Mbabane Swallows dominated the field, getting a clean sweep of titles before the first agreement reached its expiry.
The partnership was subsequently renewed with a boosted E12 million package over three years, though the COVID-19 pandemic threw a spanner in the works. Only two editions were completed during that cycle, with Young Buffaloes and Green Mamba claiming the spoils.
After a three-season break, the country’s premier knockout competition bounced back with the Correctional Services’ side successfully defending their crown to end the second cycle of the agreement. By this stage, the investment per edition had stood at E4 million.
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