PLE COLLECTS OVER E0.5 M
●Tourney attracted an estimated 11 000 enthusiastic supporters this past weekend
MBABANE – The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) reportedly collected over E500 000 from the gates during the Ingwenyama Cup games this past weekend.
The Ingwenyama Cup semi-finals took place on Sunday at the packed Somhlolo National Stadium, attracting an estimated 11 000 enthusiastic supporters. The highly anticipated games saw both defending champions, Mbabane Swallows and Green Mamba secure spots in the lucrative finals.
The tournament winner will be awarded a grand prize of E1.4 million. In the first game, Inyoka Eluhlazane emerged victorious with a 3-2 win, while Umkhonto KaShaka dominated the main event by defeating Inkunzi Emnyama 3-0. The semi-finals showcased, not only impressive football skills, but also the rich cultural heritage of Eswatini, as the event fused sports and tradition in a unique and captivating way.
Impressive
According to a source within the PLE office, after careful counting, it was confirmed that E555 074 was collected from ticket sales, indicating an impressive estimated turnout of approximately 11 000 fans.
“After deducting E228 823.80 from the total revenue, each of the four semi-finalist teams received a share of E81 502.22. Additionally, E138 768.50 was allocated to the Premier League, while officials received E6 640 and the security team responsible for ensuring safety during the event was paid E10 200. After all deductions, the remaining balance amounted to E326 250.20. This financial distribution ensures that all parties involved in the Ingwenyama Cup semi-finals are duly compensated for their efforts and contributions to the success of the event,” the source said.
The last time a comparable amount was collected was during the 2020 edition of the Ingwenyama Cup, which also drew an estimated 11 000 supporters. That year, Green Mamba emerged as the tournament’s champions, securing a 2-0 victory over Mbabane Highlanders. The success of the 2020 event, both in terms of attendance and revenue, highlights the Ingwenyama Cup’s status as a significant and eagerly anticipated tournament in Eswatini’s football landscape.
Initially, the capital city giants, Mbabane Swallows and Highlanders had proposed that they receive 80 per cent of the gate takings, while suggesting that the forces should get 20 per cent. The Mbabane giants also proposed that the fans attending the derby be clearly identified upon entry, so that all the money from the gate takings for the derby would be divided between the two sides. Efforts to obtain comments from Kenneth Makhanya, the CEO of the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE), were unsuccessful as he did not respond to messages sent to him.