The PLE Charity Cup 2026 finals abandonment has financial consequences.
Forced by the wet weather to call off the first-ever Charity Cup finals since 2019, the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) will have to consider how to compensate clubs. This could perhaps apply to the supporters who had bought their tickets at E50 each for what was supposed to be a one-day tournament.
Sources within the PLE have speculated on one highly possible way to handle the remaining four finalists – the second-tier final clubs Nkwene Sundowns and Lozitha Spurs, then elite finalists Mbabane Highlanders AM and Nsingizini Hotspurs.
“We will definitely compensate them. I believe we will give them more participation fee,” said a well-placed source.
Another source in the PLE Executive Committee said they would engage the four teams, but a share of gate collections was not an option on their minds since this is charity.
‘The participation in this tournament is officially E15 000. We will give them a participation fee of the same amount if anything, but we’ll discuss with concerned stakeholders,” said the official.
Should it be an extra E15 000 for the four remaining rivals, then it means E60 000 more on top of the initial one they received, taking it to E30 000 participation fees per club. Worth mentioning is that Nsingizini Hotspurs President Derrick Shiba raised the issue when asked about the calling off of the finals due to a wet and risky pitch at the Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba on Sunday.
“As teams, the costs to prepare and honour the games are high. We certainly believe and hope there will be some way to compensate us, say maybe we get a share in gate collections or participation fee,” he responded.
His Highlanders AM counterpart, Shauwn ‘MA Mkhize’ Mkhize, was not too concerned about money but her players’ safety.
“Look, we’ve already seen players pick up unnecessary injuries today, so this is a good decision. It’s only sad for the supporters who loyally came here to watch their teams, but to our supporters, the day will come, and this final will play,” she said.
She acknowledged the pitch was already unplayable during their game with Ubombo Sugar. Meanwhile, the games were abandoned just when Nkwene Sundowns and Lozitha Spurs had started their final, but they both had to be stopped a few minutes into it before the decision was taken after a pitch inspection was done some minutes later.
PLE CEO Petros ‘Pat’ Vilakati, when announcing the decision, hinted that they had met and agreed with the relevant stakeholders, which include the concerned clubs. He said everything else would be communicated in due course. The finals will not be played this weekend as the senior national team will be away in Europe and the National Under-23s have Algeria to host as well.
This could see the finals played on the weekend of November 21 or at month-end.
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