Play Replay Close highlight Stop listening ENGLISH MBABANE – Some Eswatini clubs are reportedly using ‘rented’ coaches registered under the guise of managers to bypass stringent licensing requirements. The shocking revelation was made by Eswatini Football Coaches Association (EFCA) Secretary James Kunene during a poorly-attended Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Sigwaca House in Mbabane on Sunday, October 18. Kunene exposed this underhand practice as one of the primary hurdles facing local tacticians, adding that some clubs have gone as far as signing contracts on behalf of coaches. Confederation of African Football (CAF) regulations dictate that unlicensed coaches cannot take charge of teams in the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) or continental competitions. The prevalence of rented coaches has further exacerbated frustration among local coaches, who are already grappling with an administrative deadlock that has frozen professional development. The coaches present expressed deep fury over the Eswatini Football Association’s ongoing...

Play Replay Close highlight Stop listening ENGLISH MBABANE – Legendary Gospel artist, Sipho ‘Big Fish’ Makhabane continues soaring higher in the industry after so many years. On Friday the Gospel artist was performing at PMT Health Care Institution 4TH Graduation ceremony in Namibia. After his performance the musician was honoured by the Institutions Founder and Director Dr Rutendo Zvidza, stating that Makhabane will always give a powerful, beautiful and spirit-filled performance. Dr Zvidza said that the institution was honoured to have the Gospel musician perform at their event. “What an amazing experience we have had today. We have the extraordinary honour of celebrating not just a Gospel musician, but a living legend, a father, a mentor and a remarkable servant of God.  Baba Sipho Makhabane, your journey is a testimony of faith, humility, dedication and service to humanity,” said the director.  Through his music, the Big Fish has healed broken...

Play Replay Close highlight Stop listening ENGLISH MANZINI – An undercover investigation by the Times of Eswatini SUNDAY has revealed that WBHO-J&E Construction is importing concrete material into the country. This is despite the fact that precast material and articles of cement are manufactured on a large scale in Eswatini. The Manzini Mall and Bus Rank redevelopment project is being constructed by Stefanutti Stocks, which handled the first phase, while local firm J&E Construction, in partnership with South African company WBHO, is undertaking the subsequent construction phase of the project. Investigations conducted by this newspaper established that some of the construction material used on the project was procured from Global Precast, a South African company. Global Precast has strategically identified a local agent to penetrate the Eswatini market. Some of its products are procured through a Matsapha-based company styled Thartia Construction Services. It has been established that Global Precast announced...

The City of Windhoek is set to spend N$3.3 million on 170 employees and 11 councillors to attend the 2026 Southern Africa Inter-Municipal Sports Association (Saimsa) games in Eswatini. The sport games cost comes just a month after the municipality said it was battling an annual funding shortfall of around N$300 million. The reported cost allocation has raised questions about whether such spending is appropriate at a time when the municipality faces financial and service-delivery pressures. Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn City communications manager Harold Akwenye yesterday confirmed that the city will participate in the games, scheduled for 20 to 25 September, but said the final composition of the delegation remains subject to approval processes and final arrangements. They are expected to travel this Thursday, a source has confirmed, at a cost of about N$3.3 million, with the source questioning the rationale of such huge...

Play Replay Close highlight Stop listening ENGLISH BIG BEND – Former Sihlangu team doctor Melusi Lukhele has advised teams to encourage players to hydrate with electrolytes. The former Mbabane Highlanders AM medic was reacting to the heatwave currently being experienced across the country ahead of this weekend’s MTN Premier League round four fixtures. Lukhele advised teams to take extra precautions, including ensuring players hydrate adequately 24 hours before the match, implementing brief cooling and water breaks during the game, having medical staff and ice packs on standby, and avoiding prolonged warm-ups under direct sun to prevent heat exhaustion. “The electrolytes play a major role in replacing those lost through sweat,” Lukhele said. He said electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and chloride, which are lost through sweat, are essential for maintaining fluid balance, muscle function and preventing cramp and heat exhaustion. Meanwhile, the heatwave has forced the Premier League of...

Malawi’s U-23 football team, the Junior Flames, suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Eswatini U-23 in the first leg of the AFCON U-23 qualifiers on Tuesday afternoon at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe. The match produced few clear-cut chances, with both sides struggling to break the deadlock during the first half. Despite making several attempts on goal, neither team could find the finishing touch as the opening 45 minutes ended goalless. Eswatini eventually broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute through Sibonelo Vlakati, who unleashed a well-struck effort from the edge of the penalty area. The shot flew directly into the roof of the net, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. The Junior Flames pushed for an equaliser but could not find a way past the Eswatini defence before the final whistle, leaving Malawi with a narrow deficit to overturn in the second leg. “It’s not over yet until we...

Play Replay Close highlight Stop listening ENGLISH LOBAMBA – South African runners have dominated the Imbube Marathon  held today Saturday, October 17,  2026, leaving the home favourites in their wake at Eswatini’s premier road race. Siphamandla Nkosi led the charge in the men’s 42km, stopping the clock at exactly 2:30:00 to claim the E40 000 winner’s cheque. The South African was no stranger to the top step – he first lifted the title in 2023 when the race returned after a three-year COVID-19 break, sat out 2024 and 2025 and bounced straight back this year. Nkosi said he kept it simple, pushing hard through the first 21km, then nurse the legs home in the heat. Siphamandla Nkosi is the Imbube Marathon 2026 champion. (Pic: Sanele Jele) Meanwhile, Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force’s Ntokozo Nkonyane finished second and became the first Liswati across the line. Another South African, Derrick Masango from KwaZulu-Natal,...

Malawi’s Junior Flames have been knocked out of the CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after a 1-1 draw away to Eswatini, with the hosts progressing 2-1 on aggregate. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg at Bingu National Stadium, Malawi needed a strong response but were unable to break the deadlock in the opening half. Eswatini took a significant step towards qualification in the 76th minute when Njongo Siphelele scored to put the hosts ahead and extend their aggregate lead. The Junior Flames continued to push for a way back into the contest and levelled late through John Nchema. However, the equaliser was not enough to alter the outcome of the tie. The match ended 1-1, securing a 2-1 aggregate victory for Eswatini and bringing Malawi’s Under-23 AFCON qualifying campaign to an end. Source link

Eswatini has repatriated 10 of its 31 deportees from the US, probably through South Africa, and there are rumours that they were released through informal border crossings. Eswatini has repatriated 10 individuals – some with criminal records – probably via Johannesburg to third countries, but both countries are denying that Eswatini was “secretly releasing United States (US) deportees at night to South Africa through informal border crossings…” The 10 deportees are part of 31 people who have been deported to the country from the US since 2025. Though officials said the 10 were very likely to have transited through South Africa, Eswatini government acting spokesperson Thabile Mdluli told Daily Maverick, “We are deliberately not mentioning the countries of transit. We will still need them for future repatriations.” The media reports that Eswatini had smuggled US deportees into South Africa seem to originate from the online news portal Swaziland News, which...

Eswatini has repatriated 10 of its 31 deportees from the US, probably through South Africa, and there are rumours that they were released through informal border crossings. Eswatini has repatriated 10 individuals – some with criminal records – probably via Johannesburg to third countries, but both countries are denying that Eswatini was “secretly releasing United States (US) deportees at night to South Africa through informal border crossings…” The 10 deportees are part of 31 people who have been deported to the country from the US since 2025. Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn Though officials said the 10 were very likely to have transited through South Africa, Eswatini government acting spokesperson Thabile Mdluli told Daily Maverick, “We are deliberately not mentioning the countries of transit. We will still need them for future repatriations.” The media reports that Eswatini had smuggled US deportees into South Africa seem...