MBABANE – The name change from Mbabane Highlanders Football Club to Mbabane Highlanders AM FC is currently undergoing approval by FIFA, the world football regulatory body.
Three months ago, South African entrepreneur Shauwn “MamKhize” Mkhize became president and her son, Andile Mpisane, became chairman. This was when the rebranding began.
It introduced the black and golden logo with the initials “AM”, which is synonymous with Royal AM. The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Chief Executive Officer Pat ‘Kungumusa’ Vilakati has clarified that the name change is not yet official.
Speaking on EBIS Sports, Vilakati explained that the matter has been escalated to FIFA through the Eswatini Football Association (EFA), which is the only body authorised to handle such requests on behalf of clubs.
“As the PLE, we don’t have the power to approve a name change. Once we receive an application, we forward it to the EFA, which then takes it to FIFA for verification and approval,” Vilakati said.
He added that while the application was submitted after the registration window had closed, it is now in FIFA’s system awaiting final clearance. In the meantime, the PLE has instructed the club to refrain from using the “AM” branding in any official league business.
“They can use ‘AM’ for marketing or sponsorship purposes, but not on official documentation or in competition fixtures until the process is complete,” he emphasized.
This directive follows an incident where Highlanders appeared in kits displaying the unapproved name and crest, contrary to Article 22.9(b) of PLE regulations, which mandates clubs to use only the official crest registered with the league.
Failure to comply could expose the club to disciplinary action, particularly if rival teams file formal protests. Similar cases abroad have led to heavy penalties. The Italian side, Napoli, once faced fines for using unapproved kits.
The development underscores the tight regulatory framework governing club identity under FIFA and CAF statutes, which prohibit unapproved branding and multi-club affiliations. Highlanders’ management could not be reached for comment.
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