Africa-Press – Eswatini. Stakes are now high in the Ingwenyama Cup football competition, as it carries a ticket to Africa’s second-tier interclub competition.
The winner will not only celebrate the E1.4 million cash prize, but will also be catapulted into the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup. This follows the latest update by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) yesterday that the winner will be guaranteed a slot next season. The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kenneth Makhanya, had towards the end of 2023 said they would make a proposal for the Ingwenyama Cup sponsored by Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund (MVAF) champion to participate in Africa.
Previously, the EswatiniBank, which is still to bounce back after the COVID-19 pandemic halt qualified teams to CAF Confederation Cup. Meanwhile, the MTN Premier League winners will represent the country in the Champions League. After COVID-19 struck in the 2019/20, the EFA was forced to use the league runners-up for the Confederation Cup.
“The champion of the 2023/2024 MTN Premier League, subject to conformity with the CAF Club Licensing Regulations and confirmation to meet the financial requirements of such participation, will participate in the CAF Champions League,” stated the statement released by EFA CEO Frederick Mngomezulu. The statement further states that an exclusive arrangement has been made to use Ingwenyama Cup as the qualification for the Confederation Cup.
Clarified
EFA further clarified that in the case both CAF envoys fail to honour the continental showpiece, the runners-up will then be eligible to take the spot. “The respective runners-up may be engaged subject to conformity with the CAF licensing regulations for the 2024/2025 edition. This will consider decisions and directives on the subject, including the expression of financial capacity to participate in the respective CAF inter-clubs competition by the respective football club,” reads an extract from the statement.
Meanwhile, this season, Young Buffaloes withdrew from the CAF Confederation Cup on financial burden associated with the competition, while MTN Premier League defending champions Green Mamba were the country’s envoys to the CAF Champions League. The statement further revealed that in the event the runner-up football clubs, where applicable, were also unable to be engaged, there would be no football club in the participation to the respective CAF inter-club 2024/25 competition. Local elite league clubs received the good news with both hands. Green Mamba CEO Mandla Sibiya said they were open to anything suggested by EFA.
Eager
“We are eager to go back to CAF. However, it would have been great to play the home games locally. There is no revenue we get as hosting in other countries as it is costly,” Sibiya said. On the other hand, three times Ingwenyama Cup winners Mbabane Swallows said this would inspire the technical team to push the players to be the first to grab such an opportunity.
“Surely it will not be easy as all 32 teams in the Ingwenyama Cup are capable of taking this opportunity. The news is a motivation on its own, it will motivate the players to win the Ingwenyama Cup tournament,” Ngwenya said. The lucrative competition kicks off today with the last 32 matches and the grand opening tomorrow at the Somhlolo National Stadium.
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