Home | Sports | REMOVE 1ST ROUND INCENTIVE

REMOVE 1ST ROUND INCENTIVE

20/09/2022 08:15:00 Straight Talk with Ashmond Nzima

Font size:

Giant telecommunications company MTN Eswatini has again proven to be a true friend of Eswatini football by committing for another three years.

For the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) and MTN, their partnership is more of a match made in heaven. From a E300 000 package back in 2002/03 to the improved E6.5 million for the upcoming 2022/23 season, the relationship has stretched for almost two decades. In the new E6.5 million package for the new season, which has increased by E500 000, prizes have finally been introduced for all the teams. Finally, no team will go home empty-handed. In previous seasons, prizes were only for the top six. All teams finishing outside the top six will now get E40 000. Not bad for a start.

In the MTN National First Division League, it was even worse. Only the top three got prizes. Bravo to both PLE and MTN for finally correcting the unwanted scenario. The prize breakdown has also been noticeably tweaked. While winners of the Holy Grail of local football will still get E1 million, third-place finishers will now get a reduced E325 000. It is a decrease of at least E25 000. For the first round incentive which is given to the team that tops the charts midway through the campaign, there was a 50 per cent cut. It was reduced from E200 000 to E100 000. For starters, slain PLE Chairman Victor ‘Maradona’ Gamedze introduced the incentive back in 2013. He said the innovation was aimed at improving the competitiveness of the tournament. The package was E250 000. Fast forward to 2022, it has fallen to E100 000. Here in Eswatini E100 000 may look like serious money. For an individual yes, but not for a team.

Following the reduction in the ‘carrot’ , it might no longer serve the purpose of creating competitiveness. For some teams, this is almost their two-week budget. Since the budget for the First Round incentive is already there, it can be channelled to players. This may include the increase of the player of the month purse from E6 000 to E10 000. The player of the season prize can also be increased to E25 000. Then we can start talking about competition. Since the sponsorship is not a donation, it was good to note that the PLE had a couple of targets to ensure the sponsor got a return on the investment. Having said that, the PLE must guard against setting goals that are not realistic. Gone are the days of lip service. When we were younger we heard stories of our parents promising their possible suitors aeroplanes when proposing. That cannot happen in the case of PLE.

Among the targets set by the PLE is to promote the MTN Ayoba App to at least 40 000 this season. Also targeted by the elite football office is to recruit 8 000 on the MyMTN App each season. Honestly, for a football nation like Eswatini, these are realistic goals. All that is needed is a robust marketing strategy. On the day of the MTN League launch, the PLE announced plans to recruit a marketing officer with a E160 000 budget. It is not bad for a start. The need to implement this project as soon as possible cannot be overstated. In fact, it is long overdue. It is needed more than ever following the launch of the MoMo Cup which needs serious mobilisation for fans to fully embrace the voting exercise of the tournament.

Lastly, following the belated start of the league, which is expected next Saturday (October 1), it was good that the PLE and MTN agreed to start negotiations of a new deal as early April of 2025. That will be the last year of the three-year deal. With sponsors returning to football after the drought enforced by the advent of COVID-19, it is time to revert to the August-May season. As things have opened up, it is important to come out of the COVID-19 wiser.