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MTN KICKS OFF 2026/27 PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON WITH BOLD VISION FOR FAN ENGAGEMENT
By Tlalane Dlamini
MBABANE, ESWATINI — MTN Eswatini officially launched the 2026/27 Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) season at its Head Office on 16 September 2026. The launch reaffirmed the company’s long standing partnership with the league while introducing new digital initiatives designed to bring fans closer to the game.
Addressing the sports fraternity, MTN Eswatini CEO Jerry Soko said the partnership between MTN and the PLE goes beyond sponsorship.
He said the partnership is focused on growing football and creating opportunities for Emaswati. Soko outlined MTN’s ambition to support a stronger football ecosystem where clubs can grow commercially, while fans engage more deeply with the sport and players, vendors and content creators benefit from the expanding football economy.
FANBOX SCALES UP
MTN Chief Marketing Officer Meshack unveiled the expanded MTN PLE FanBox as one of the key highlights of the new season.
FanBox was launched towards the end of last season as the digital home of the league. It has already distributed more than E60000 to players and supporters through initiatives such as Player of the Month and Fan of the Season.
For the new season, the platform introduces a Fantasy League, trivia competitions, spin and win games, easier ticket purchasing and score prediction games. Fans can also continue participating in voting polls and accessing the club merchandise shop.
The platform is available at mtnplefanbox.com, while the USSD service *9090# allows fans without smartphones to participate in voting and purchase tickets.
NEW PRODUCTS CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES
MTN’s Viki’Drip continues to provide young supporters with affordable data access to follow the league and participate on FanBox.
Lula Combos, meanwhile, reward match day purchases with points that can be redeemed through *247#.
Soko also highlighted MTN PLE Caller Tunes, which allows supporters to set their favourite club songs as ringtones while creating an additional revenue stream for participating clubs.
The service is already available for Mbabane Swallows, Mbabane Highlanders, Nsingizini Hotspurs, Manzini Wanderers and Young Buffaloes.
As the launch concluded, Soko thanked the league’s clubs, players and supporters for their continued contribution to the growth of Eswatini football.
He described the fans as the true heartbeat of the game as the 2026/27 season officially gets underway.
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