MBABANE – The wait is finally over for top-flight clubs.
The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) has disbursed the participation fees for this season.
Clubs kicked off the 2025/26 MTN Premier League campaign with dry coffers, having not received the lucrative E110 000 participation fees, which teams are expected to receive before the commencement of the campaign to provide financial support.
With the fee increased this season from E100 000 to E110 000 for each club, the PLE has ended up paying out a total of E1.76 million for the 16 teams from the E7 million sponsorship package.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pat Vilakati, has confirmed the payment of the participation fees for all the clubs.
He revealed this during the MTN Premier League ‘Y’ello Sunday double-header pre-matches which was held at Sigwaca House. “The teams have received the participation fees,” the former PLE Football Manager said.
Some clubs have also confirmed receiving the money but with mixed feelings. They said they are now breathing a sigh of relief regarding the funding of their daily operations and incentivising their stars.
On the same note, other clubs have expressed bitterness, revealing they received their money with E45 000 cut from the total. “Yes, I can confirm that our participation fee has been paid by the Premier League, but we were surprised to receive only E65 000.
“We had plans and expenses we hoped to cover with these fees as you know clubs are struggling financially in the country and this is one main source of our income,” said one club official who preferred to remain unnamed.
Other clubs who also got the deductions clarified that the PLE had allegedly made automatic deductions of E45 000 towards the E40 000 match officials’ fees and affiliation fees.
It was explained that, at registration, some clubs struggled to comply with the 2026 PLE Rules and Regulations, as per article 5.3 (a) and (b).
Nsingizini Hotspurs’ Wenzile Lushaba (L) attempts to evade Green Mamba’s Neliswa Nkambule during their MTN Premier League match played on Wednesday. Green Mamba won the contest 1-0. (Pic: Nimrod Hlophe)