SPONSORS of the Ingwenyama Cup, the Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (SMVAF), have strongly condemned the violence and unsporting behaviour that marred the last-16 clash between Mbabane Highlanders and Nsingizini Hotspurs at Mavuso Sports Centre on Sunday.
The highly anticipated encounter was halted in the 91st minute after Nsingizini centre-back Luyanda Nhlengetfwa scored a dramatic long-range winner deep into stoppage time.
Moments after the goal, sections of the crowd invaded the pitch, attacking match officials and threatening journalists and rival supporters.
Police fired rubber bullets to restore order, with Highlanders supporter Elijah ‘Yellow Man’ Mavimbela getting injured in the chaos.
In a public media statement issued yesterday, Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (SMVAF) expressed “deep disappointment, distress and grievance over the unfortunate and unacceptable events” that unfolded during the match.
The Fund unequivocally condemned the violence, pitch invasion and intimidation of officials, stating such conduct had no place in football or society.
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The sponsors apologised to Their Majesties, government, football authorities and the public for the embarrassment and security concerns caused by the disorder.
They emphasised that the Ingwenyama Cup is built on respect, safety and dignity, in line with international fair play principles.
While reaffirming their commitment to supporting local football and nation-building through the prestigious knockout competition, SMVAF warned that continued sponsorship would depend on guaranteed safety measures.
“Football must be enjoyed without fear, intimidation, or threat to life and property,” the statement read, adding that the Fund would not compromise on safety, discipline or fair play.
Sunday’s match had already been tense, with disputed refereeing decisions fuelling frustration among supporters before the late goal proved decisive.
However, the post-goal violence overshadowed what had promised to be a thrilling contest between traditional rivals Mbabane Highlanders and Nsingizini Hotspurs.
SMVAF said it is engaging football authorities and security agencies to ensure accountability and implement stronger preventative measures.
The Fund stressed that the integrity of the Ingwenyama Cup must be protected and that immediate remedial action was required to restore public confidence in the tournament.
EFA, PLE Should Discipline Referees, Tighten Security
FOOTBALL fans have urged the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) and the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) to step up and rescue the beloved sport.
“The excuse that mother bodies can’t assess referees’ performance due to lack of video evidence is no longer valid, given the availability of FIFA apps and Eswatini TV coverage,” said one fan.
He said every game, especially those played at Mavuso Sports Centre, could be reviewed to address the root cause of violence and unfair play, like the recent incident involving Mbabane Highlanders and Nsingizini Hotspurs.
“Implementing a transparent review system for refereeing decisions could indeed calm the situation and improve the game, without resorting to violence.”
Many other fans shared similar sentiments:
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User 1: PLE and EFA must address the issue of poor refereeing.
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User 2: It’s a pity the PLE does not want to address the issue of poor refereeing.
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User 3: FIFA should just ban EFA for five years so that you can learn how to run football.
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User 4: We need answers about what caused the violence on Sunday.
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User 5: Referees must be called to order. As long as nothing is done to address such incidents, the violence will always be there.
