NO SPTC/TRADE FAIR CUP THIS YEAR

MBABANE – In what will come as a huge disappointment to the soccer loving fraternity, there will be no SPTC/PLS Trade Fair Cup Knockout tournament this year.

Sponsors of the tournament in its past two editions, the Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC) has pulled out from sponsoring the tournament. The company, which also sponsors, the annual season opener in elite league football, the Swazi Telecom Charity Cup Spectacular, had ‘rescued’ the local game in the past two years by sponsoring the Trade Fair Cup, which had last been sponsored in 2007.

The company has already informed the Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) that it will not be sponsoring this year’s tournament. The football organisation’s Chief Operations Officer (COO), John Mazibuko, confirmed the latest development yesterday. Actually, the tournament has not been included in the PLS’s calendar of events for the 2014/15 football season. 

“Unless we somehow get an impromptu sponsorship, the tournament will not be staged this season, hence it does not even feature in our calendar of activities for the season. The sponsors did notify our office that they would not be in a position to sponsor the tournament this year,” said the veteran administrator.

Last year’s winners police ensemble Royal Leopard, who beat Malanti Chiefs 2-0 in last year’s final played under lights but consistent drizzle on an cold day at Somhlolo National Stadium, will not have a chance of defending the tournament.

Declined

SPTC Corporate Affairs Manager Nqobile Magagula declined to commit herself on the matter, as she claimed to be on leave when sought for comment.
However, a source close to the matter said the company had no products to promote, hence the decision not to sponsor the tournament.
“You will recall that SPTC uses the Trade Fair games to market its products.

“That is why the tournament has been known as the Ultimate Home Cup because it was used primarily to market the company’s products.
“At the moment, there is nothing to market to the public. The PLS understood the company’s position and both parties agreed amicably on the decision,” our source said.
Mbabane Swallows won the inaugural tournament in 2012 before Leopard’s triumph last year.

The red and white glamour giants had also won the tournament in 2007, beating army side Young Buffaloes 1-0 after extra time in a closely contested final.  

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: