BY SANELE JELE AND NTOMBIKAYISE GWEBU
(At Somhlolo National Stadium)
LOBAMBA – Heavy rainfall at Somhlolo National Stadium yesterday forced the postponement of the 2026 PLE Charity Cup finals due to unsafe, waterlogged pitch conditions.
The decision affected both showpiece matches. The National First Division (NFD) final between Nkwene Sundowns and Lozitha Spurs was abandoned after just 13 minutes of goalless action when referee Veliswa Steenkamp and Match Commissioner Mbongiseni Fakudze stopped play.
Following a brief pause, the highly-anticipated main final between defending champions Mbabane Highlanders AM and Nsingizini Hotspurs, slated for 4pm, was officially called off before kick-off.
Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pat ‘Kungumusa’ Vilakati confirmed the call, prioritising the well-being of all participants.
“The PLE wishes to inform all stakeholders, supporters, teams, partners and members of the media that the 2026 PLE Charity Cup finals, scheduled for today at Somhlolo National Stadium, have been postponed due to persistent rainfall. The decision was taken after the heavy rainfall left the playing surface in an unplayable condition, making it unsafe for players and officials to continue with proceedings,” Vilakati announced. “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
Despite visible disappointment among the more than 3 000 crowd wrapped up in warm jackets, key club administrators firmly backed the move. Mbabane Highlanders President Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize welcomed the postponement, stressing that player welfare must come first.
“It is sad for the supporters, but it was a good call because of the players. The field was not playable,” MaMkhize said. The businesswoman, known for her strong focus on branding, noted that the decision aligned with the high standards she expects for her club.
Reflecting on their upcoming opponents, she added with characteristic candour: “Nsingizini have been beating me all the time. Maybe it was God’s call because it was going to be difficult for us.”
‘MaMkhize’ also took time to celebrate the national team call-up of Highlanders player Qiniso Nyawo while affirming that her squad would continue preparing while awaiting the rescheduled date.
Nsingizini President Derrick Shiba echoed the safety sentiments, though acknowledged the logistical strain: “While this was a welcome change, it hurt deeply because we had invested in preparing for this game.” Shiba further appealed to organisers to consider sharing gate takings or providing participation fees to assist teams with expenses already incurred.
The Charity Cup made a welcome return this year after a seven-year absence, backed by an impressive E1.675 million sponsorship package involving MTN Eswatini, Nedbank and Orchard Insurance. The ultimate champions are set to claim E400 000 alongside the trophy, while the runners-up take home E200 000.
Both finalists endured gruelling paths to the decider. Highlanders AM squeezed past Ubombo Sugar 5-3 on penalties following a goalless draw, while Nsingizini edged Moneni Pirates 10-9 in a dramatic sudden-death penalty shoot-out. Moneni and Ubombo earned E100 000 each as losing semi-finalists.
Meanwhile, the E6 000 Top Goalscorer award remains locked in balance, with no goals recorded across over 180 minutes of football on the day, while two goalkeepers remain in contention for the E5 000 Best Goalkeeper prize.
