By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – The 2024/ 25 MTN Premier League will kick-off on August 17 with the MTN National First Division the following week.
This was confirmed by the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Football Manager Pat Vilakati today (Thursday, July 18, 2024).
Only CAF Inter-club participants will be excused and that is Mbabane Swallows and Nsingizini Hotspurs who will be playing their first round preliminary in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup, respectively on the weekend of August 16 to 18.
PLE announced the early kick-off after the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) announced that all leagues and competitions are now expected to observe the normal season period of August to May after it was disrupted by the COVID-19 in the 2021/ 22 season.
EFA announced that he new 2024/2025 season is therefore expected to commence in August 2024 for the national leagues, whilst the regional leagues are expected to commence in September 2024 and all leagues, irrespective of level are expected to have been concluded by the end of May 2025.
“Both divisions will kick-off on the weekends of August 17 and 24. Member clubs are encouraged to finalise the Club Licensing Online Platform (CLOP), requirements before July 30, 2024, in order to be licensed to register their players,” reads the statement from Vilakati.
Player’s registration was opened on Monday (July 15, 2024) and it will be closing in September. Vilakati added that they will be releasing the master fixture soon.
The PLE is set to hosts its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on August 10 were the new Executive will be elected.
