PLE CHARITY CUP

‘Ibuyile’ with ‘Big Derby’ Sunday!
* Capital City giants meet again after 4-0 face-off
* PROs ‘Touch’, ‘Bhambo’ declare fireworks
* Green Mamba says Ubombo Sugar will be tough

It’s back (Ibuyile) – that is the PLE Charity Cup.
Just when Mbabane Swallows are showing signs of resilience and readiness to compete, the red and white capital city giants have their traditional rivals Mbabane Highlanders AM to battle on Sunday.
This will be in the PLE Charity Cup Play-Offs scheduled for this Sunday, November 1,2026 at Mavuso Sports Centre in Manzini.
This follows the two being drawn against the other in a draw held at the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Headquarters, Sigwaca House in Mbabane on Wednesday.
These two giants are yet to play their first round MTN Premier League match for the current season but this Sunday will be their second since the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup 2026 quarterfinals on September 2 at the very venue they go at it again.
This is the biggest fixture in the history of domestic soccer and is set to attract scores of spectators. Ticket prices have been set at E50 per head for both the Play-Offs this Sunday and the main tournament on November 8.
This will not be the only play-offs match as four elite teams that made the top 6 in the voting charts are scheduled to fight for the two spots in the main day tournament where the money is better. Also is will be Green Mamba who meet a tough Ubombo Sugar, the latter still licking their wounds after the former ousted them out of the Ingwenyama Cup 2025 and beat them twice last season in the league.
The giants, Highlanders AM and Swallows’s Public Relations Officers Thabiso ‘Touch’ Manyatsi and Knowledge ‘Bhambo’ Ngwenya were at the draw. The event was also graced by Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Chairman Polycarp Dlamini, PLE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Petros ‘Pat’ Vilakati and Brand and Sponsorship Manager Ncobile Simelane, and Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Executive Committee member Aaron ‘Katalala’ Mavimbela, declared fireworks.
It was like they wanted each other, which also was seemingly the PLE’s prayer after the two could not beat Moneni Pirates and Nsingizini Hotspurs to the automatic qualification spots after voting far less than them.
“We are grateful to PLE for this draw. God wouldn’t give us a load heavier than us. Our boys will do all in their power to ensure we play in the main tournament next Sunday.
“This is a new Cup, we can’t look back and talk about history. We want to be the maiden winners of this new trophy. Iyawulala ibonene (It’ll be a battle),” declared Ngwenya as he mocked their rivals as the last Charity Cup winners under the Eswatini Telecom banner in 2019.
In response, Manyatsi was quite a mouthful.
“You can’t eliminate history, this is our Cup and we know the same goalkeeper we scored four goals against is still there. We also have the same players who scored those goals,” said the Inkunz’emnyama PRO.
Manyatsi said from the club president, Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize, management, technical bench and supporters, this was the match they wanted.
“I watched Swallows on Sunday and saw the very goalkeeper (Sandanezwe Mathabela) still in goal. We own the last Charity Cup and we’ll continue from there,” he said.
Manyatsi then invited the hordes of supporters to come out in numbers. On another note, Green Mamba CEO Ntuthuko Dlamini said their draw was welcome.
“It’s not an easy one as we have seen how Ubombo Sugar are doing this season. It will be a tough match, but we’ll be ready to fight for a win,” said Dlamini.
He thanked their supporters for voting them in and invited them to the stadium.
“We also want to this tournament but first we must get past Ubombo who are level with us on 10 points in the league, yet we are number one,” he said.
Bafana Bashukela (Ubombo Sugar) PRO Jada Smith said they still remember what Green Mamba did to them in one knockout tournament.
“They knocked us out, but I won’t say in which tournament. We will do our best to win the match,” she declared.
Smith further thanked their supporters and every other supporter, saying the Charity Cup was for everyone.
“As Lubombo representatives, we will try our best to showcase what we can do,” she said.
The Green Mamba and Ubombo Sugar will be the first game at 1.30pm while the Mbabane derby will be at 4.15pm.
Tickets cost E50 and can be accessed via *4055#.
The PLE Charity Cup Fixture:
Sunday, November 1, 2026
Mavuso Sports Centre, Manzini:
G. Mamba vs. Ns. Hotspurs 1.30pm
M. Highlanders AM vs. M. Swallows 4.15pm