MBABANE – The third edition of the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup is set to deliver a historic tournament this year, with every participating team able to field their strongest possible squad.
For the first time since the competition’s revival in 2023 by the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE), no club will be deprived of key players due to national team commitments. In previous editions, several teams, most notably the top sides, were weakened when senior national team players were called up for Sihlangu Semnikati duty.
This year, however, the situation is different. The tournament, which is held alongside the Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF) running from August 28 to September 6, will see all teams go into battle at full strength following Eswatini’s failure to qualify for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 group stages. The national side were eliminated in the preliminary round by Eritrea, losing 4-1 on aggregate in March.
Last year’s edition was particularly harsh on Royal Leopard, who were missing around six players due to national duties. Even champions Nsingizini Hotspurs had to lift the trophy without goalkeeper Khanyakezwe Shabalala, defender Nkosingphile Shongwe, midfielders Kwakhe Thwala and Neliswa ‘Tiger’ Dlamini, and attacking midfielder Thubelihle Mavuso.
In the 2023 edition, runners-up Mbabane Swallows were the hardest hit, suffering a bruising 6-0 defeat to Green Mamba in the final.
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Nsingizini Hotspurs’ Jodyn Vermaak (R) closes down Malanti Chiefs’ Sifiso Makhubu in a midfield battle at the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup 2025. (File pic)