BY THEMBA ZWANE
EZULWINI- FNB Eswatini and the Sunshine Tour have unveiled a record-breaking E2.5 million prize pool for the 2026 FNB Eswatini Challenge.
The package, in which FNB Eswatini and the Sunshine Tour have contributed E2 million and E500 000 respectively, represents a E500 000 increase from last year’s total pool. This year’s edition of the Challenge was launched by Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima at the Royal Swazi Spa. The main leg of the tournament, to be hosted at Ezulwini Golf and Country Club, will take place between 11-15 August and will be preceded by a two-day client Pro-Am in which the bank’s clients and stakeholders will play with selected professional golfers.
Speaking during the launch of the 5th edition of the tournament, Minister Nzima hailed the sponsorship as one of “the largest single-sports sponsorships in Eswatini.” “I also wish to congratulate you for the milestone we are celebrating here this morning, the launch of the 5th edition of the FNB Eswatini Challenge. In the world of sports, we are well aware of how challenging it is to establish an initiative and sustain it over time. True to your commitment to Eswatini, ‘njengaloku solo nisho kutsi nitintile Eswatini futsi aniyindzawo,’ the FNB Eswatini Challenge has stood the test of time. Nayo i FNB Eswatini Challenge itintile. We understand that running a tournament of this magnitude and at this scale consumes resources. But for us to achieve sustainable sport development, we need consistent and sustained investment from players such as FNB Eswatini,” Nzima said.
Minister Nzima further emphasised the role that the Challenge was playing in supporting golf development in Eswatini. “With over 100 professional players descending on Eswatini from the rest of Africa, South America and Europe, the FNB Eswatini Challenge is now a matter of national importance that deserves all of our support. As has already been mentioned, sport is a big driver of economic growth. The players and working teams that will be coming to Eswatini will not only be playing golf but also supporting our hospitality sector, our artisans and other sectors. The ripple effects and benefits are there for all of us to experience,” he added.
Meanwhile, FNB Eswatini CEO Thokozani ‘TK’ Dlamini said the bank’s continued investment in local sport was aligned with its commitment of bringing help to all emaSwati. “FNB Eswatini is here to serve every single liSwati, young and old, rural and urban-based, employed and unemployed, civil servant or privately employed. Lusito lolukhonsile lwemaswati onkhe. Through the 2026 FNB Eswatini Challenge, we will bring this promise to life. We remain committed to working together with His Majesty’s Government and all stakeholders to help accelerate sustainable economic growth in our Kingdom. As a bank, we firmly believe that purposeful investment in sport can help us achieve our shared development goals,” he added.
Meanwhile, the bank also announced partnerships with AD Enterprises, aQuelle, Oracle Group Eswatini, Sgonian Republik, and Destiny Events as official partners of the 2026 FNB Eswatini Challenge. “We sincerely appreciate the support, and we laud your role in driving development for our beautiful Kingdom. We look forward to collaborating with even more organisations as we bring this year’s Challenge to life,” CEO Dlamini said.
This year’s winner of the Challenge will take home E396 250, with players seeking to follow in the footsteps of an all-South African cast of previous winners, namely Michael Hollick (2025); Daniel Van Tonder (2024); Peter Karmis (2023) and Jaco Prinsloo (2022).
The Challenge will tee-off with local pre-qualifiers to be held at Ezulwini Golf and Country Club on 16-18 July, from where 12 emaSwati will qualify for the main tournament to be held in August.
Today’s launch was also attended by Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council CEO Darius Dlomo, Eswatini Tourism Authority CEO Vusi Dlamini, as well as representatives from the Eswatini Professional Golfers Association (EPGA), among others.
The Challenge, a golfing tournament on the Sunshine Tour calendar, attracts both local and international golf professionals from countries including South Africa, United Kingdom, USA, Greece and Korea to name a few.
15 EMASWATI TO TAKE PART IN CHALLENGE, E60 000 FOR BEST PERFORMING EMASWATI
EZULWINI – A total of 15 emaSwati will take part in the 2026 FNB Eswatini Challenge, with FNB Eswatini further setting aside E60 000 to recognise the three best performing locals in the tournament.
Through the pre-qualifiers to be hosted by the Eswatini Professional Golfers Association (EPGA) between 16-18 July, 12 emaSwati, including two amateurs, will qualify for the main tournament, as well as three emaSwati who are already Sunshine Tour members. According to FNB Eswatini CEO Thokozani ‘TK’ Dlamini, the bank is prioritising ensuring sustainable golf development in Eswatini through the Challenge. “I am also pleased to announce that, as we did last year, FNB Eswatini has set aside E60 000 to recognise the top three best placed emaSwati in the main tournament. While our ultimate dream is to see a liSwati win the main tournament, we recognise the importance of investing in and encouraging our local players. By doing so, we can provide them with the motivation and platform they need to develop their game and compete at the highest level,” he said.
FNB INTRODUCES FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND JUNIOR GOLF DAY
EZULWINI – For the first time since its inception in 2022, the FNB Eswatini Challenge will host a Junior Golf Day on tournament week aimed at bringing the sport of golf closer to children in Eswatini.
This was announced by FNB Eswatini CEO Thokozani ‘TK’ Dlamini during the tournament’s launch yesterday, where he emphasised FNB Eswatini’s commitment to growing golf in Eswatini. “I am excited to announce that this year’s Challenge will feature a first-of-its-kind Junior Golf Day which will bring together emaSwati children to learn basic golf techniques and interact with some of the PROs that will grace the Challenge. Through this concept, we want to ensure that, while the Challenge attracts top golfers from across the world, we are also intentionally investing in the future generation of professional golfers that will come from Eswatini. Most importantly, we hope that being on the same greens with PROs will inspire our children to dream beyond their current circumstances and see what is possible through the experiences and achievements of these professional golfers,” Dlamini said.
The addition of the Junior Golf Day was praised by Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima. “I have also learnt with delight that this year’s Challenge will include a Junior Golf Day aimed at nurturing the next generation of emaSwati golfers. We commend this as it ensures that while we celebrate the PROs of today, we are also intentionally investing in the next generation of golfers who will take Eswatini’s golf even further,” Nzima said.
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(Courtesy Pics)
