INGWENYAMA CUP WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS TO POCKET E20 500

Sports

BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO

MBABANE – The inaugural Ingwenyama Cup Women’s football tournament is set to be a game-changer for women’s sports, with champions set to claim a grand prize of E20 500.

The tournament, debuting this year, features 12 teams vying for the title. The runners-up will receive E10 000, while semi-finalists and quarter-finalists will take home E5 000 and E3 000, respectively.

Individual excellence will also be rewarded, with the Player of the Series earning E2 000, the top goal scorer E1 000, and the best goalkeeper E600.

The competition’s draw, held on Monday, revealed that the top four teams from last season’s Women’s Football League – Young Buffaloes, Manzini Wanderers, Green Mamba, and Nsingizini Hotspurs – will begin their campaigns in the quarterfinals. These teams were excluded from the preliminary round draw.

The preliminary round matches are set to be highly competitive. Denver Sundowns will face Royal Leopard, Mbekelweni will take on Red Rhinos, Southern Divas will clash with Mbabane Swallows, and AS Interladies will go head-to-head with Sidvwashini United. The winners of these matches will join the top four teams in the quarterfinal stage.

Prize Breakdown:

  • Champions: E20 500
  • Runners-Up: E10 000
  • Semi-Finalists: E5 000 each
  • Quarter-Finalists: E3 000 each
  • Preliminary Round Losers: E2 000 each
  • Player of the Series: E2 000
  • Top Goal Scorer: E1 000
  • Goalkeeper of the Tournament: E600
  • Player of the Match (3 awards): E300 each

An additional E15 000 has been allocated as an administrative subsidy for participating teams, with a total tournament budget of E100 000.

This historic event highlights the growing support for women’s football in Eswatini, providing a platform to showcase talent while setting a precedent for future tournaments.

Views: 7