MTN LEAGUE RANKED 4TH IN THE REGION!

MBABANE – The new MTN League sponsorship positions the country’s flagship tournament among the best in the region in terms of prize monies.

League sponsors, MTN, announced a revised E18 million purse for the next three seasons, which will see the champions pocketing E1 million at the end of each campaign. This is an increment of E250 000 and the total prize money for the winners can shoot up to E1.35 million, as E350 000 is up for grabs at the end of the first round.

The prize money makes the country’s league to match most of the professional leagues in the region. It includes Zimbabwe’s top-tier, whose winners’ prize currently stands at US$ 100 000 (about E1.3 million) and that of Botswana (E1.69 million). The MTN League is fourth.

Eswatini’s ‘carrot’ for the league champions is equal to that of Namibia, but ahead of many countries in the 14-member Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) region. Countries with less prize monies include Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho Mauritius, Seychelles, Angola, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Seychelles. Their winnings are less than E1 million.

On top in the region and the continent as a whole in terms of value is South Africa’s money-spinning Absa Premiership. The total package is E50 million, while the champions walk away with E10 million.
During Wednesday’s launch MTN CEO Ambrose Dlamini had highlighted the revised package was good in their partnership with football

“We believe and hope that with this sponsorship, our partnership with football will flourish to greater heights,” Dlamini had said.
PLS COO Pat Vilakati felt the latest developments were good for football, as international stars from beyond the continent could be tempted to play in the country.
“It’s high time we attract international stars, as our league is now becoming among the best in the continent.

“We thank our sponsors for raising the bar and parents can freely allow their children to play the game because it is now becoming a career,” said Vilakati.
The E18 million package, which will be spread equally for the next three seasons, also comes with exciting incentives for the teams. Participation fees shot up from E20 000 to E100 000. The giant company had spent about E25 million in football in the past 15 years. In the next three years, the money will shoot up to E43 million.

Meanwhile, in September 2014 this publication reported that the country’s Premier League was ranked 14th in Africa. The rating was based on sponsorship and administration. At the time, the sponsorship value was E1.4 million.

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