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INGWENYAMA CUP KICKS OFF AFTER FIFA WEEK

13/11/2019 01:17:00 BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO

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MBABANE – Buckle up! The Ingwenyama Cup begins end of the FIFA week. The fifth edition of the Ingwenyama Cup will go underway on Friday when the E3 million sponsored tournament is launched with the first round of 32 draw being conducted on Friday.

The knockout tournament to feature 32 teams will kick off after the international break (November 22-24).
The launch will be held at the SMVAF Head Offices in Mbabane this Friday.
Ingwenyama Cup Public Relations Officer (PRO) Lenhle Masuku confirmed yesterday that after the tournament committee meeting held on Monday at Nkhanini Royal Offices in Lobamba, where it was confirmed that the launch will be on Friday with kick-off in two weeks’ time.

Launch

“Chairman of the tournament Prince Hlangabeza chaired the meeting where the launch and official kick-off was agreed and confirmed,” he said.
Meanwhile, Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Chief Operations Officer (COO) Pat Vilakati said the competitions committee would meet this afternoon and decided on the scheduled until the end of the year. He said for now, he could not comment much on the league continuation until the meeting.

“We are still going to meet and what I can confirm so far is the launch on Friday and the play-offs to be played on Saturday with the draw to be held Wednesday (today). After the meeting, we will then have the full schedule of the games until the year ends,” he said.

The quartet of Manchester United, Hub Sundowns, Shooting Stars and Magwanyane have already confirmed joining the elite teams.
Four teams who were runners-up in the regional tournament, being Sunrise, Ubombo Flyers, Amalanda and Ludzeludze Brothers will battle it out in the play-offs where two teams will join the main tournament. The play-off matches will be played on Saturday at a venue yet to be confirmed.

Ubombo Flyers, who were are the defending champions of the regional tournament, are already out to defend their title as they will be appearing in the play-offs on Saturday.

The elite teams include the 14 clubs campaigning in the MTN Premier League and 12 teams playing in the National First Division.
They will be joined by the four teams who won regionally and two teams who will win during the play-offs and complete the 32 teams to fight for the E1.3 million cheque.

Army side Young Buffaloes are the defending champions, having won the fourth edition by beating Mbabane Highlanders 4-1 in a battle for the E1.3 million first prize.
The first three editions were won by Mbabane Swallows.