Africa-Press – Eswatini. For too long, the elite football clubs of Eswatini – and indeed, those across many of Africa’s smaller nations – have existed largely on the periphery of the global game’s influence.
While our players fight valiantly on the pitch, the administrative, commercial and political structures supporting them have often been isolated, under-resourced and lacking a unified, powerful voice where it truly matters: In the halls of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).
The official opening of membership registration to the African Club Association (ACA) marks a fundamental turning point. This is not just another initiative; it is a meticulously structured, FIFA and CAF-recognised body specifically designed to unify, empower and elevate African professional teams. For the country’s MTN Premier League and MulaSport National First Division (NFD) clubs, this opportunity is not a luxury—it is an absolute necessity for survival and future prosperity. To hesitate is to condemn ourselves to the status quo of administrative irrelevance and stunted commercial growth.
The most immediate point of discussion—and one that must be emphatically dismissed—is the annual membership fee of US$1 000 (approximately E17 000). In the context of the potential returns, this fee is negligible.
We must confront a harsh reality: Many of our clubs, even in a small economy like Eswatini, manage to find funds for projects that offer zero tangible, long-term return on investment. The mention of resources being spent on unnecessary projects like foreign substances is a pointed, yet necessary, critique. This is not to disrespect cultural practices, but to highlight a clear issue of misplaced priorities. If clubs can allocate substantial, non-budgeted cash towards dubious, unproven ‘quick fixes’ for performance, then E17 000 for a guaranteed seat at the highest table of African football administration is a non-negotiable expenditure.
The excuse of lacking the funds is flimsy at best and intellectually dishonest at worst. Revenue generation for this modest fee is straightforward. A single well-attended match could cover this cost entirely through gate takings. Furthermore, a targeted, one-off fundraising drive or a minor sponsorship from a local business—proud to support their team’s continental integration—could easily clear the amount. If a club cannot generate or secure E17 000 for an investment that directly benefits its long-term financial stability, its entire financial planning model must be questioned.
The true cost is not E17 000; the true cost is the lost opportunity of remaining outside this influential body.
The ACA’s value proposition is built on three pillars: Representation, financial support and development. Each pillar offers disproportionately high returns for Eswatini clubs, mitigating the structural disadvantages imposed by a smaller domestic league and economy.
Currently, Eswatini clubs rely on the national association (Eswatini Football Association – EFA) to be their singular voice on the continent. While the EFA performs its role, the ACA provides a direct, unmediated channel for club-specific interests.
The ACA’s primary function is to provide a single, structured and influential body to unify professional teams, strengthening their collective bargaining power. For a club like Mbabane Swallows, Royal Leopard, Nsingizini Hotspurs or Young Buffaloes, becoming an ACA member means gaining a stronger voice in critical decision-making processes at the CAF level, especially concerning the very club competitions (CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup) they aspire to participate in. Decisions on prize money distribution, competition formats and financial incentives are no longer dictated solely from above; they are influenced by a body representing the clubs themselves.
In any restructuring of African football, the unified ACA voice will advocate to protect the interests of all its members, ensuring that the concerns of clubs from smaller leagues are not steamrolled by the financial might of the continent’s giants.
This is a political and commercial muscle that Eswatini clubs cannot afford to rent, but must possess.
The notion that financial support will only flow to the traditional ‘big’ clubs is a misconception the ACA aims to dispel. By advocating for and working with CAF, the ACA is directly involved in securing financial support for its members.
Crucially, the text notes the ACA advocates for securing funds such as the solidarity fee provided to clubs participating in CAF Inter-club preliminary competitions, which has recently been increased. For Eswatini clubs, often eliminated in the early stages, this solidarity payment is a vital, reliable and recurring income stream. The ACA ensures this stream is maximised and protected.
Beyond direct grants, the commitment to boosting commercial growth, ensuring their commercial viability and enhancing their profitability is transformative.
The ACA aims to form alliances with sponsors, the business community and governmental bodies. For a club struggling to attract a major international sponsor, being part of a unified ACA portfolio suddenly makes them more visible and attractive to pan-African corporate partners looking for a collective entry point across 54 nations.
The association will offer shared best practices for revenue generation, digital rights management and brand building – tools that small, isolated clubs rarely have the resources to develop independently.
The most enduring benefit lies in the commitment to elevate governance and operational standards. African football has been plagued by unsustainable models, poor transparency and clubs existing as personal fiefdoms rather than professional, financially robust entities.
ACA membership provides a path towards improved sustainability for clubs. This means access to shared development frameworks and expert advice on modern governance structures, financial planning and operational efficiency – the very elements that transform a community team into a competitive, professional entity.
The ACA is involved in forming alliances to construct and improve football-related infrastructure and facilities like stadiums. Eswatini’s infrastructure remains a major barrier to hosting major continental matches and developing world-class talent. Being part of an influential body advocating for investment in national association infrastructure, adhering to CAF/FIFA regulations, is a massive lever for development.
A mutual aim with CAF is to invest in and promote the training of young, talented players and ensure players benefit from suitable education pathways. This focus is critical for Eswatini, a nation that must rely on selling talent internationally for its ultimate success. The ACA provides frameworks to professionalise youth academies, ensuring our young players are developed and marketed under globally-recognised standards.
Eswatini is a small economy, meaning our clubs face fiercer competition for limited domestic financial resources. The only way to overcome the inherent structural disadvantage is to become hyper-connected to the continent’s administrative and commercial engine.
The E17 000 fee is the cheapest insurance policy an Eswatini club can buy against irrelevance. It is a one-time gateway to shared resources, collective political power and a future where a club from Pigg’s Peak or Big Bend has the same administrative voice as one from Cairo or Casablanca.
The clock is ticking. The progressive clubs in Africa are already lining up to register, eager to secure their official ACA membership number and the ensuing advantages. The leaders of Eswatini’s football clubs, the chairpersons, the chief executive officers (CEOs) and the executive committees must demonstrate genuine foresight and professionalism. They must immediately prioritise this registration, raise the modest fee and ensure that our professional teams are fully integrated into the influential body that will shape the commercial and competitive future of African club football.
To reject this opportunity in favour of outdated, isolated models is an act of self-sabotage. Eswatini football deserves to be influential. The ACA is the vehicle. Our clubs must get on board, now.
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