MBABANE – Eswatini’s standout 2025/26 season player is set to earn Manzini Sea Birds a major financial boost following his involvement in all FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has extended compensation to clubs whose players participate in the ongoing global football showpiece.
Crucially, this benefit applies not only to those in the final tournament but also to clubs that released players for the preliminary qualifying rounds, which began in November 2023 and concluded late last year.
FIFA has stipulated that only players on the start list; consisting of 11 players and a maximum of 12 substitutes, will be taken into consideration and no benefits can be allocated to players without a club.
Clubs are set to receive approximately E39 000 (US$2 362) per player for each qualifying match, in contrast to the E82 800 (US$5 000) per day allocated for the final tournament.
However, a quartet of players who featured across all of Eswatini’s Group D qualifying matches will see each of their teams earn E390 000 once FIFA distributes the benefits for the entire competition.
The current MTN Premier League golden boy, Manzini Sea Birds’ Philani ‘Mkasabuli’ Mkhonto, has accumulated E390 000 for his club.
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Sihlangu and MTN Premier League 2025/26 Player of the Season, Philani ‘Mkasabuli’ Mkhonto celebrates a historic brace against Mauritius during the World Cup Qualifiers match played at Mbombela Stadium. (File pic)