‘Big 4’ for E2m one day tourney
EZULWINI - A one day elite football knockout tournament worth E2m is on the cards. Impeccable sources have revealed that a certain sponsorship with overseas links and also a renowned sports betting company, is working towards hosting a tournament to feature only the country’s big teams under the Simunye (We are one) banner. The teams are Mbabane Highlanders, Mbabane Swallows, Manzini Wanderers and Moneni Pirates.
“If all goes well, it is proposed that the tournament aimed to be a charity knockout, plays for a day two weeks after the league has ended. For now it’d be too premature to reveal much but yes there is something brewing,” responded an official from one of the involved teams.
PROPOSED
Details of the proposed tournament are scanty at the moment, but all four clubs did not deny it when questioned if they were aware and who the sponsor was.
“The season is over and as teams we already feel bored so we’d like to play as many tournaments than having a long off season yet our teams must also do well in CAF competitions.
“Even this proposed one day tournament isn’t enough because every team needs to play regularly. We just need tournaments in the end,” Swallows General Manager Sandile ‘Beyond 2000’ Zwane said.
It is understood the champions will take home E500 000 should the knockout be sanctioned by the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) in consultation with the Eswatini Football Association (EFA).
“As much as the logistics suggest it’s too early to say much, we know about it and the proposed prize breakdown which surely your source shared as you already know the champions’ prize,” Wanderers Governor, Lawyer Bongani ‘Bhanyaza’ Mdluli said when he was also asked about the news.
Highlanders Managing Director (MD) and Simunye group Chairman Chief Ally Kgomongwe also affirmed the proposed sponsorship and tournament.
“It’s still a work in progress with the potential sponsors and the relevant parties, otherwise we’d be ready to play as we aim to prepare ourselves for a season that will deliver us the league trophy,” Kgomongwe said.
Pirates Manager Twoman Masuku asked not to say much except that it would be a welcome tournament after playing all season with just the league and the ill-organised inaugural MoMo Cup.
PLE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenneth Makhanya said there was currently nothing on his desk about this project.
Meanwhile, the prize breakdown suggests that each of non-participating elite teams will be given E15 000 each, while the runners-up of the proposed one day knockout are set to pocket E250 000 while it’s E100 000 apiece for the losing semi-finalists. Issues of gate collections sharing are among other logistics to work on, especially with it said to be coming as a bit-part of charity tournament.