Africa-Press – Eswatini. Red Rhinos President Sithembiso ‘Ngudze’ Mamba has declared that the club’s ultimate ambition is to rewrite the history books by becoming the first-ever champions of the National First Division (NFD) under the new MulaSport sponsorship.
Mamba made the bold declaration on Saturday after Red Rhinos were crowned first-round champions and awarded the E55 000 incentive for finishing at the top of the second-tier league standings.
The military side capped off an impressive first half of the 2025/2026 season by claiming pole position on the log, underlining their intent to secure promotion to the MTN Premier League at the end of the campaign.
Clear Mandate from the Start
Speaking after receiving the first-round reward, Mamba expressed gratitude to the league’s new sponsors while reaffirming the club’s ambitions.
“As Red Rhinos, may we first thank the sponsor, MulaSport, for supporting the National First Division league. The games have been exciting and competitive,” he said.
He revealed that the team had set specific targets at the beginning of the season — and they are determined to see them through.
“Our mandate was to be the first team to win the MulaSport National First Division first-round carrot, something which we have already accomplished. Our other mandate is to be the first champions of the National First Division league under the new MulaSport sponsorship,” said Mamba.
The E55 000 first-round incentive serves as both recognition of their strong performance and motivation heading into what promises to be a fiercely contested second round.
Room for Improvement
Despite their success, Mamba admitted that the team did not end the first round on the strongest note.
“We managed to finish the first round at the top even though we did not play our last game very well. However, there is still room for improvement because this is a league tournament,” he said.
He acknowledged that the second round would present an even tougher challenge, as rival teams have strengthened their squads and refined their tactics.
“We know that the second round will not be easy because we can all see that teams have upped their game,” he added.
Strengthened Squad, Strong Belief
Confidence within the Red Rhinos camp remains high, bolstered by strategic reinforcements made during the January transfer window. According to Mamba, the club moved decisively to strengthen key areas of the squad to maintain their competitive edge.
He revealed that the technical team has assured him that the mission remains firmly on course.
“The coaches have promised me, as team president, that our mandate of becoming the first team to be crowned National First Division champions under the new sponsorship will be achieved and we will rewrite the team’s history books,” he said.
The president emphasised that hard work, discipline and determination have been central to the club’s resurgence this season.
“It has not been an easy journey, but hard work and determination have seen us through,” he noted.
Eyes on the Premier League
Beyond lifting the NFD trophy, Red Rhinos have their sights firmly set on promotion to the elite MTN Premier League. Mamba expressed confidence that the squad would adapt quickly to top-flight football if they secure promotion.
“I am optimistic that our players will quickly adapt once the team gets promotion to the elite league,” he said.
He also took time to commend the players for their dedication and commitment since the start of the 2025/2026 season.
“I thank the Red Rhinos players. They have given their best since the beginning of the season,” he said.
With momentum on their side and a clearly defined mission, Red Rhinos head into the second half of the season carrying both expectation and belief. Should they maintain their consistency and composure, the dream of becoming the first MulaSport-sponsored National First Division champions may well become a historic reality.
