BY THOBILE NDLANGAMANDLA (INTERN)
MANZINI— The Municipal Council of Manzini officially launched the exciting 2025/2026 Manzini Wards Mayor’s Cup on Tuesday, 10 March 2026 marking a significant milestone in the city’s commitment to community sports and unity.
The event, held at the Council Chamber, was presided over by the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lungile Dlamini, who unveiled the second edition of this grassroots football initiative. This year’s tournament has been rebranded from its previous name to reflect its elevated stature and strategic importance within the municipality’s development goals.
Dr Dlamini expressed her sincere appreciation to His Worship the Mayor and the Honourable Councillors for their continued support of the programme. She highlighted that the Council consistently prioritises the well-being of its citizens through such engagement initiatives.
The tournament, which is scheduled to take place at the Zakhele Sports Ground on Monday, 16th March 2026, aims to foster a spirit of peace and good sportsmanship among the various wards in the hub of Eswatini.
A notable enhancement for this edition is the upgraded prize structure, which now includes cash rewards alongside traditional trophies. The first-place winners will receive a brand-new soccer kit, a branded trophy, gold medals, a soccer ball, and E2,000. The runners-up will be awarded a kit, silver medals, a ball, and E1,000, while the third-position team will walk away with a kit, bronze medals, a ball, and E500.
The total cost for delivering the tournament is E55,000, with over 70% of the funding provided by corporate sponsors. This collaboration ensures that the municipality can deliver high-quality community events without compromising its core service delivery obligations.
Technical expertise is being provided by the Manzini Regional Football Association to ensure the games are managed professionally. Beyond the field, the event creates economic opportunities, as local informal traders and companies have been invited to register with the Community Services Department to promote their products during the tournament.
#ManziniMayorsCup #CommunityDevelopment #EswatiniPositiveNews #SoccerUnity #ZakheleSports
(Courtesy Pic)
