Africa-Press – Eswatini. The sugarcane-scented air of Simunye will come alive with cheering crowds, pounding boots and the piercing calls of match officials as Instacash hosts its biggest community event yet: the Lubombo Social Sports Day, set for Saturday, 22 November 2025, at Simunye Stadium.
The inaugural one-day sporting festival promises an action-packed programme, with three major tournaments unfolding simultaneously across the main pitch and surrounding courts. A record-breaking 40-team social soccer knockout – one of the largest single-day football competitions ever organised in the Lubombo region – will headline the event. Alongside it, spirited netball and volleyball contests will take centre stage, ensuring a spectacle of athleticism from morning until evening. Under the glow of floodlights, the day will culminate in three championship finals, each concluding with the crowning of new local heroes.
Beyond the sporting drama, organisers say the heart of the event lies in its purpose. Every lilangeni raised through team registration fees, gate collections and voluntary donations will be channelled directly to charities operating in the Lubombo region. The initiative aims to transform the boundless passion Emaswati have for sport into meaningful support for vulnerable families, orphanages and community health programmes.
Instacash Managing Director Mandla “Cheeks” Nxumalo said the event represents a significant milestone for the company and its commitment to community upliftment.
“The growth of Instacash is on the people in different parts of Eswatini transacting on the Instacash platform,” he said. “This is an exciting time, and we look forward to having Emaswati come through and enjoy the different games while using the Instacash platform. Events like these allow us to say thank you to the communities that have embraced digital financial inclusion and to give back in a meaningful way.”
The event has also drawn strong backing from reputable partners. International sportswear brand Joma has joined as a kit and equipment sponsor, while Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital and College of Health Sciences has offered its support, underscoring the day’s community-centred, health-focused mission.
Gates will open at 7am, with the first football matches kicking off at 8am. Netball and volleyball courts will run full-day fixtures, ensuring non-stop excitement across the stadium. Families attending can look forward to a bustling sideline village featuring food vendors serving sizzling braai, snacks and local delights.
Instacash is encouraging spectators to embrace cashless convenience throughout the day. “Download the app, load your wallet and experience how quick and easy it is to pay for everything from entrance fees to cold drinks,” Nxumalo added. Instacash agents will be on hand to assist new users, making the sports day a live demonstration of mobile-money simplicity.
Teams from Siteki, Big Bend, Siphofaneni and Mhlume are among those set to compete. And as the sun sets behind the towering Lubombo Mountains on Saturday, three sets of champions will etch their names into local sporting history – but organisers stress that the true winners will be the communities whose lives will be uplifted through the day’s generosity.
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