SMVAF Ingewnyama Cup, other football development programmes WOMEN’S FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME U-17 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Gday dear reader and I hope you are well. It is the fourth month of the year and interestingly in as far as the football calendar is concerned, we are beginning April with a bang.
Tomorrow, it is the Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (SMVAF) Ingwenyama Cup Final, where we will witness the finals of both the culture and football categories, as it is what this unique competition is all about. The MTN Premier League is at its climax so are the other football competitions country wide as the teams are battling it up for the various championships, promotions, and the avoidance of relegation.
OOD SMVAF INGWENYAMA CUP
As we approach the kick-off of the SMVA Ingwenyama Cup Final, the tension is boiling up more especially for the finalists in both the culture and football categories. This is another platform for Eswatini to market herself to the globe. Every stakeholder is looking forward to the humdinger of the grand final of the SMVAF Ingwenyama Cup. As part of the build-up, it is interesting to hear that ticketing is doing well which demonstrates the interest that the public is having in as far as this competition is concerned. It is not only emaSwati who are looking forward to this event but also people from beyond the boarders of this country are also interested in being part of tomorrow’s experience at the Somhlolo National Stadium. An open secrete is that both Mbabane Swallows FC and Green Mamba FC have experienced how it feels to be the Champions of the SMVAF Ingwenyama Cup; however, we don’t know the Champions of the current edition. To be safe, may the best team win and let football and culture be the ultimate champions. #ibuyile
As an effort of developing Women’s Football in the country, the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) is currently implementing the EFA U20 School Girls’ Football Development Programme where a total of 15 high schools are participating. These are St Francis, Ngwane Park, Somjalose, Lobamba Lomdzala, St Mary’s, Elangeni, Swazi National, Lozitha National, Kobe Ramokgadi, Woodlands, Lobamba National, John Wesley, Moyeni, Mjingo, and Mbabane Central. After matchday 3, the top 4 of the log includes St Francis (9 pts), Ngwane Park (9 pts), Somjalose (7 pts), and Lobamba Lomdzala (6 pts). It is still early days as the log standing can change as the programme progresses.
As part of the developing Women’s Football, the EFA has an Under-17 and Under-20 Women’s National Teams. Today, these two national teams will play an international friendly match against Lesotho’s U-17 and U-20 national teams respectively. The U-17s match will commence at 1pm and the U-20s match will kick-off at 3pm. A similar fixture will be implemented tomorrow with the U-17s playing at 9am, and the U-20s playing at 11am. The EFA takes this opportunity to thank all the football stakeholders for supporting the development of Women’s Football as it is also a perfect platform for empowering the Girl Child.
Today, the U-17 Men’s national team will play a friendly match with the RES U-17 Siyakha 1800 Pick Team at the Simunye Stadium. Kick-off is at 1am.
Until next week, football for all and safe life for all!
#Stop gender-based violence and child abuse.