BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – The 2026/27 MTN Premier League champions will walk away with a record E1.185 million, following an increase in the championship prize money announced by the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE).
The new prize purse is contained in the PLE’s Circular 78, dated September 16, 2026, detailing the prize-money breakdown for the upcoming MTN Premier League season.
The E1.185 million championship prize represents an E85 000 increase from the E1.1 million awarded to Nsingizini Hotspurs after they were crowned champions of the 2025/26 MTN Premier League season.
Nsingizini had themselves benefited from an increase in the previous season, with the championship purse having risen from E1 million to E1.1 million.
The latest adjustment means the league champions will receive an additional E85 000 compared to the previous campaign, taking the top prize beyond the E1 million mark for the second consecutive season.
The PLE circular also outlines prize money for the other finishing positions in the 16-team league.
The runners-up will receive E580 000, while the team finishing third will pocket E390 000. Fourth place carries a prize of E220 000, with fifth position earning E120 000 and sixth position receiving E90 000.
Teams finishing between seventh and 11th positions will each receive E50 000, while those occupying positions 12 to 16 will receive E25 000 each.
The prize structure also provides for a E120 000 participation fee for each of the 16 MTN Premier League clubs.
In addition to the club prizes, the PLE has set aside money for individual awards recognising players, coaches and match officials.
Eight Player of the Month winners will each receive E8 000, while the Player of the Year will receive E18 000.
The league’s top goal scorer will receive E15 000, while the Best Goalkeeper and Coach of the Year will each receive E12 000.
Other individual awards include the Fairplay Award, valued at E12 000, and the PRO of the Year award at E7 000.
The Referee of the Year will receive E9 000, while the Assistant Referee of the Year is allocated E6 500.
The Player’s Player Award carries a prize of E10 000, with the Youngest Best Player of the Season also set to receive E7 000.
The increased championship purse comes after Nsingizini Hotspurs enjoyed a highly lucrative 2025/26 campaign, when they collected E1.1 million for winning the MTN Premier League.
The champions also added another E1.45 million after winning the Ingwenyama Cup around the same period, taking their major competition prize earnings to E2.55 million.
The 2026/27 prize-money structure therefore raises the stakes for the clubs competing for domestic football’s biggest league prize.
With the champions now set to receive E1.185 million, the new season will see the PLE distribute substantial prize money across the league table while also rewarding individual performances throughout the campaign.
The PLE Executive Committee is chaired by Polycarp Dlamini, with Sthembiso Mamba as Vice Chairman, alongside Sabelo Mkhonta, Sibuso Nxumalo, Bongani Mdluli, Sandle Zwane, Melusi Dlamini and CEO Petros Vilakati.
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