EZULWINI – Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Chairman Polycarp Dlamini has hailed Nsingizini Hotspurs as the country’s emerging football powerhouse after the Shiselweni-based outfit successfully defended its MTN Premier League title and completed a remarkable treble-winning season.
Speaking during the 2025/26 MTN Premier League Awards Night at Royal Villas on Thursday, Dlamini said Nsingizini had entrenched itself as a dominant force in local football after winning every major trophy available during the season.
The chairman recalled how he had stood before a similar gathering a year ago celebrating a historic achievement by the club, which became the first team from south of the Mkhondvo River to win the Premier League title.
“A new football force had emerged and that team was none other than Nsingizini Hotspurs,” he said.
Dlamini noted that many observers had viewed the club’s maiden championship as a remarkable achievement, but the team had now proven that its success was not a once-off occurrence.
“They have made it back-to-back, entrenching themselves as the emerging football force in the country in a season where they have won every trophy on offer,” he said.
The chairman also commended the club’s leadership and administration for helping transform Nsingizini into one of the most professionally run football institutions in the country.
He highlighted the role played by club director Derrick Shiba, who received the inaugural PLE Chairman’s Award last season for his leadership and vision.
According to Dlamini, the recognition proved justified as the club went on to enjoy an even more successful campaign.
“The rest, as they say, is history,” he remarked.
While celebrating Nsingizini’s achievements, Dlamini said the PLE remained focused on strengthening the overall competitiveness of the league through innovation and digital transformation.
He pointed to several initiatives introduced by the league, including the implementation of smart cards, an upgraded official website, mobile money integration, online commerce platforms and digital fan engagement systems.
The chairman said these developments formed part of a broader strategy to position football as a viable business and economic driver.
He stressed that supporters remained central to the league’s future growth plans and that digital solutions would help bridge the gap between clubs and fans.
Dlamini also emphasised the importance of unity among football stakeholders, saying clubs, players, referees, sponsors and administrators all had a responsibility to contribute to the development of the game.
He said the PLE shared the Eswatini Football Association’s ambition of qualifying for major international competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations, FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games.
“We have a duty to football, a duty to His Majesty and a duty to the people of Eswatini to put our country on the global football map,” he said.
The chairman reiterated that the league’s mandate was to deliver a highly competitive and self-sustaining premier division capable of supporting broader football development objectives.
As the evening’s biggest winners, Nsingizini Hotspurs left no doubt that they are currently setting the benchmark for success in Eswatini football, with their back-to-back league titles and treble-winning season establishing them as the team to beat heading into the next campaign.
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