S. Dreams ‘fulfilled’ with Montigny’s E100K boost
MANKAYANE – Money makes the world go round and football is one of the most demanding, especially in the elite stage.
MTN Premier League rookies Seven Dreams have got just a timely boost as most teams resume their preseason training as of tomorrow and Tuesday. They were presented E100 000 by forestry company Montigny ahead of their maiden elite season. It did not just end there but Tibiyo TakaNgwane Managing Director, Absalom Themba Dlamini, also added E10 000 on top of the E100 000, which is equivalent to the participation fee received by elite teams in the MTN Premier League last season. This is not the first time the company has boosted an elite league side, as last season they presented over E100 000 to relegated Shiselweni-based side Rangers in their maiden season in the top flight of local football.
SUCCESS
Seven Dreams, who celebrated their past season’s success to win the first division league title and gain promotion to the top flight yesterday also enjoyed the same welcome from the company.
They were presented with a E100 000 replica cheque through Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Vice President and Montigny Employee Mashumi Shongwe, who also represented EFA President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane. The presentation was done at Mankayane Sports Ground during the team’s party, held at the sports ground.
“On behalf of Montigny, I would like to present this cheque to the team to show them our support,” Shongwe said.
He jokingly said the company had budgeted E20 000, but was surprised to see such an amount. He then encouraged the Mankayane community to take care of the forest, by avoiding fires as the money lost due to such incidents was the one to be used for community projects. Meanwhile, former PM also pledged E10 000 to the champions and further assured that he would always be there to assist the team, should the need arise. Dlamini is from Mankayane at Ngcoseni, same area as the team’s Managing Director
Bishop Bhekibandla Vilakati. The latter expressed his gratitude for the support by Montigny and Dlamini, while appealing for sponsorships from other companies in the region so they could build a stronger and competitive side.
The 2022/23 MTN National First Division champions’ party included players’ awards, while also in attendance was the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Chief Operations Officer (COO) Pat Vilakati, League of Churches President Bishop Samson Hlatjwako, and the Mankayane and Malkerns communities.
Seven Dreams have never been relegated in any division in their 18-yearold history in football.