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TRADE FAIR CUP BOUNCES BACK!

16/08/2022 09:06:00 Machawe Fakudze

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MBABANE – Football enthusiasts will be excited to learn that the exciting Trade Fair Cup is back this season.

The Trade Fair Cup was last played in 2007 and Mbabane Swallows were the last team to win it after beating Young Buffaloes 1-0 in the finals at the Mavuso Sports Centre. The Premier League of Eswatini’s (PLE) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kenneth Makhanya, revealed in the Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2021/22 report that discussions around the revival of the Trade Fair Cup were ongoing, with prospective sponsors and one sponsor indicating that they would sponsor the tournament that would be held in December. This publication’s sports desk contacted Makhanya on the latest development on the issue of the Trade Fair Cup, to which he disclosed that negotiations were at an advanced stage. “Negotiations are at an advanced stage, meaning that the sponsorship is almost in the bag, but T’s must be crossed before we can launch it,” Makhanya said.

agreement

He also said the sponsors of the tournament would be revealed on the day of the competition launch, as this was the agreement between the two parties. Some of the elite league team’s public relations officers (PROs) were excited on the prospect of having the Trade Fair Cup back this year. Mbabane Highlanders PRO Mandla Madonsela said this was one of the best news in the history of local football in recent years. “This is good news indeed for us as teams. These types of tournaments are good as they boost our coffers and help the players to reach top form. We really appreciate what the PLE is doing,” Madonsela said.

He urged the PLE to continue scouting for more sponsors as this would help in the development of the standard of the sport and improve Sihlangu’s performance. Young Buffaloes Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sandile Gwebu also welcomed the news and said this was good thing for the teams as it would bring more competition for the clubs. Meanwhile, Green Mamba CEO Mandla Sibiya said they were happy as a team to learn that the Trade Fair Cup was back as this would help them to not concentrate on the league games only.