Mbabane– Local professional golfers and sports industry stakeholders have credited the FNB Eswatini Challenge with creating opportunities for local players, developing junior golf and contributing to the growth of sports tourism as the tournament enters its fifth edition this week.
The Challenge, which has become a fixture on the Sunshine Tour calendar, returns with a record E2.5 million prize pool, while a new Junior Golf Day will give 30 young emaSwati an opportunity to learn from six Sunshine Tour professionals.
The main tournament will be played from Thursday to Saturday at the Ezulwini Golf and Country Club, following a two-day client Pro-Am.
Local professional golfer MJ Dlamini said competing against Sunshine Tour professionals on home soil had helped local players raise their level while showcasing Eswatini’s golfing talent.
“Through FNB Eswatini’s partnership with the Sunshine Tour, we have a platform to perform at home, and it gives us a chance to showcase the talent from Eswatini whilst helping build the next generation of golfers,” he said.
Fellow professional Nicholus Vilakati described the Challenge as Eswatini’s premier golf event, saying it had given local players the opportunity to compete against some of the best golfers in Africa and beyond.
Professional golfer Brandon Rennie said the tournament had also given local players confidence that they could compete internationally.
Meanwhile, Eswatini Professional Golfers Association President Mandla Dlamini said the local pre-qualifiers had opened opportunities for emaSwati golfers to gain access to the Sunshine Tour schedule.
He added that the tournament had also created opportunities for caddies and generated business for the hospitality sector.
Tourism boost
The tournament has also been credited with contributing to the recovery of Eswatini’s sports tourism sector following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eswatini Tourism Authority Chief Executive Officer Vusi Dlamini said international tourist arrivals increased from just over 210 000 to 502 000, while tourism employment rose from 10 217 to 13 420 jobs as tourism recovered.
He said tourism’s contribution to GDP increased from E645 million in 2023 to E1.174 billion in 2024.
According to Dlamini, the FNB Eswatini Challenge contributes to hotels, restaurants, transport operators and informal businesses, with August consistently ranking among the country’s top four tourism months.
Ezulwini Golf and Country Club Operations Manager Kevin Zwane said preparations for the tournament begin months in advance and create work for more than 30 casual workers, while also benefiting local suppliers, contractors and tourism businesses.
Junior golfers get platform
A new feature of this year’s event is the inaugural FNB Junior Golf Day, which will be held on Wednesday at MTN Golf Park.
Thirty young golfers aged between eight and 18 have been selected to participate, including youngsters from communities such as Sihhoye, Manjengeni and Ludzeludze.
The youngsters will play and learn from six Sunshine Tour professionals.
Captain of Eswatini Nomads Vusi Dlamini said the tournament’s impact extended beyond the professional event, noting that an annual scoring initiative raises about E40 000 for junior golf, women’s golf, coaching programmes and equipment.
E60 000 for top locals
A total of 15 emaSwati golfers will compete in this year’s Challenge, with FNB Eswatini setting aside E60 000 to reward the three best-performing local players.
Sunshine Tour Tournament Director Ludwick Manyama said the tournament had grown into a valued event on the Sunshine Tour schedule, attracting competitive fields comprising established professionals and regional talent.
FNB Eswatini Chief Marketing Officer Sibusile Dlamini said the bank viewed its investment in the tournament as part of its broader contribution to opportunities, talent development and economic growth in Eswatini.
The Challenge was revived following the COVID-19 pandemic and has since become an annual platform bringing professional golfers, clients, stakeholders and young players together through golf.
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