PLE calls for unity to lure sponsors
MBABANE – In an effort to lure sponsors, the Premier of Eswatini (PLE) has urged teams to assist in collecting data from their supporters. The PLE Chairperson Mark Carmichael said the exact fan database was key in the negotiating table with potential sponsors. The Denver Sundowns’ boss said the organisation would then sum together the teams’ fan base into dependable figures that could be used.
“May I urge the teams that for this organisation to get more sponsorship, we urge the teams to work with us, we need a consolidated database that we’d be able to present on the negotiating table with sponsors. This will be a clear indication to sponsors that will be willing to partner with us as it shows that we have a huge following,” the chairman said.
He said sponsors wanted common sense which was business sense. He said the organisation needed co-operation from all stakeholders to sustain sponsorships as the organisation belonged to all clubs. One of the ways, he highlighted was for teams to register and share their fan database with the organisations.
The MoMo Cup, which withdrew its sponsorship just after two seasons, was aimed for teams and PLE to collect and know their fan database. “It is difficult to negotiate and convince sponsors to invest their money into the sport without giving them confidence on the return of their investment,” he said.
This was contained in the chairperson opening remarks in the recent PLE Football Indaba. The Indaba was aimed at looking at possible ways to sustain clubs and the organisation.
The PLE currently has two competition sponsors. These are league sponsors MTN Eswatini and Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (SMVAF) responsible for the knockout competition, Ingwenyama Cup. The PLE had a self-sponsored tournament in the 2023 Trade Fair Cup. Another knockout competition, EswatiniBank Cup, is yet to make a comeback just after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Notably, some teams took a giant leap in attracting sponsors. Premier league sides Ezulwini United and Nsingizini Hotspurs each unveiled E650 000 and E1.5 million sponsorships respectively.