MBABANE – Hours before the PLE Charity Cup voting polls closed last night, several heavyweight clubs faced the unthinkable prospect of sitting the competition out.
Among these are powerhouse sides Green Mamba, Royal Leopard and Young Buffaloes. At the time of compilation, Moneni Pirates and Mbabane Highlanders AM were among the front-runners to receive a bye.
Moneni led the charge with over 12 000 votes, followed by MulaSport National First Division outfit Nkwene Sundowns with more than 9 000.
Lozitha Spurs sat in third place, with Highlanders AM occupying fourth. Teams like Mbabane Swallows, Nsingizini Hotspurs and Ubombo Sugar also remained well-positioned.
Meanwhile, Leopard languished outside the top 10 with fewer than 100 votes, while Buffaloes sat on 42 votes, trailing Green Mamba on 76. Consequently, these giants risked spending roughly a month inactive, with competitive action paused for the tournament before a subsequent two-week hiatus for the international break.
Leopard boast a proud record in the competition, having lifted the trophy at least three times.
Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pat ‘Kungumusa’ Vilakati confirmed that league fixtures will temporarily be halted. He was speaking during a press briefing at Sigwaca House yesterday.
“We will likely have four games on the day of the finals. Complimentary tickets and invited guests will be limited, so we urge the public to purchase tickets in due course. Matches will cost E50 per day,” Vilakati said.
“If a club misses out on the top six, they risk spending a month inactive. Furthermore, the bottom four Premier League teams will compete in play-offs this Sunday, with the top two receiving a bye.”
PLE Chairman Polycarp Dlamini called upon the corporate sector to throw their weight behind the initiative.
“Gratitude goes to the supporters who have dug deep into their pockets to vote. We continue engaging potential sponsors while calling for more to come forward. Any amount helps since it is for charity,” Dlamini stated.
“Whether a person can afford E3 million or E10 000, it will make a massive difference for underprivileged individuals. We wish all participants the best and promote violence-free matches.”
PLE Executive Member and Head of Marketing Sibusiso ‘Scorpion’ Nxumalo revealed that close to 50 000 votes had been cast. Nxumalo is set to announce the official qualifiers today.
“We targeted 20 000 votes for the Premier League teams and 10 000 for the MulaSport National First Division. However, the tournament will proceed even if these targets are not fully met,” he noted.
The popular tournament’s return received a major boost in July when the PLE secured a lucrative E1.5 million sponsorship package.
This marks the official revival of the Charity Cup for the 2026/27 season after a lengthy absence, having last been played in 2019.
Mbabane Highlanders were the last team to lift the trophy in 2019 under the EswatiniTelecom banner, defeating Manzini Wanderers 3–1 in a memorable final at the Somhlolo National Stadium. However, the Weslians risk missing out this time around, with their total vote count falling below 200.
All 32 PLE clubs were eligible to enter, with votes determining the qualifiers. The top six Premier League sides from the voting phase advance to the tournament proper, which kicks off with play-offs on November 1, followed by the semi-finals and final on November 8.
The schedule adjustment follows a postponement from the initial September 27 and October 4 dates to align with International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) fixtures involving the national youth squad.
In the National First Division, the top two voting clubs will secure a spot to face each other on finals day alongside a E200 000 allocation. To qualify, NFD teams must accumulate a minimum of 10 000 votes. The NFD champions will collect E180 000, while the runners-up take home E80 000. Beyond the on-pitch entertainment, all proceeds will directly benefit non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and charitable bodies.
The tournament boasts a rich corporate history, dating back to pioneers Swazi Paper Mills in 1993, before the Premier League assumed control from 1996 to 2000. The Baphalali Red Cross Charity Cup carried the torch in 2001, paving the way for Swazi Telecom’s 18-year title sponsorship. Most recently, the MoMo Cup, which was won back-to-back by Nsingizini, utilised a similar voting format locally.
