By THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – The Hhohho Regional Football Association (HRFA) has hailed Mandla Mahewu, under Premier Eswatini, for investing more than E1 million into the Mbabane Regional Leagues, describing the sponsorship as a major boost to grassroots football development.
Speaking during the regional league awards ceremony, HRFA Chairman Dr Comfort Shongwe expressed gratitude to the sponsor for its unwavering commitment to nurturing local football talent.
Lusoti Football Club were crowned champions of Mbabane Regional Football League B division while Nkwalini United were crowned champions of the A division taking home E4 500 and E8 500 respectively.
Shongwe said the impact of the sponsorship could already be seen through the success stories emerging from the regional structures.
He cited MTN Premier League side Amawele as an example of a club that started in the Mbabane Regional League before climbing the ranks of Eswatini football.
“Your support at grassroots level is not in vain. Some of the players who started in these leagues are now representing the national team. This sponsorship is helping to develop future stars of Eswatini football,” said Shongwe.
He urged football supporters and the nation at large to rally behind Premier Eswatini and its Mandla Mahewu brand for recognising the importance of investing in community football.
Shongwe further requested representatives of the sponsor to convey the association’s appreciation to the company’s management for their continued support over the years.
He also commended the organising committee for ensuring the smooth running of the league programme throughout the season.
Despite celebrating the achievements made, the HRFA chairman expressed concern over the lack of promotion of Mbabane-based teams to higher divisions in recent years.
“We need to work harder to ensure that our teams progress to upper leagues and continue raising the profile of football in this region,” he said.
In addition, Shongwe thanked team officials for their dedication and commitment from the beginning of the season until its conclusion. He also proposed the erection of a Mandla Mahewu-branded billboard as a way of enhancing the sponsor’s visibility while promoting the partnership.
Representatives of participating teams also paid tribute to Mandla Mahewu for its support, which they said had spanned more than a decade.
“We appreciate the sponsor from Mandla Mahewu. It has not been an easy journey in both the Mbabane Regional League A and B divisions. We hope the sponsor will continue supporting us,” said a representative of the teams.
The teams further reported that incidents of violence during matches had been minimal this season, attributing the improvement to a greater sense of responsibility among clubs and supporters.
They also thanked the HRFA for successfully securing and maintaining the sponsorship agreement with Mandla Mahewu through Premier Eswatini.
The continued investment by Mandla Mahewu is expected to strengthen grassroots football structures and provide aspiring footballers with opportunities to fulfil their dreams while contributing to the growth of the sport in Eswatini.
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