Ubombo Sugar F.C.
 | |
| Full name | Ubombo Sugar Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 |
| Ground | Mayaluka Stadium |
| Capacity | 1,000 |
| Chairman | Gcina Ndwandwe |
| Manager | Bongani Mdluli |
| League | Premier League of Eswatini |
| 2024–25 | 7th |
| Website | Website |
Ubombo Sugar FC is a Swati football club based in Big Bend in the Lubombo Region that currently competes in the Premier League of Eswatini.[1][2]
History
[edit]Ubombo Sugar FC was established in 1998 as Illovo FC. It was founded and fully sponsored by Illovo Sugar, a major sugar producer in Eswatini and the largest in Africa.[3] The club was relegated from the Premier League of Eswatini following the 2007–2008 season.[4]
Following a poor 2010 season, Illovo was relegated again, this time to the to the Super Leagues, which prompted a major overhaul at the club in the off-season.[5] The club finished second in the National First Division in 2023 to earn promotion back to the top fight for the first time in 15 years.[4]
Ahead of the 2025–26 Premier League season, it was announced that the club had formally requested to rebrand to Ubombo Sugar FC with the Eswatini Football Association. The change was requested after Illovo Sugar ceased to exist and was delisted from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Illovo's previous assets, including the football club, then fell under the umbrella of Ubombo Sugar Limited.[3] The new, rebranded identity was revealed at an event on 23 July 2025 and included the public unveiling of the club's new logo and kits for the upcoming season.[6] At that time the club also announced a three-year kit sponsorship deal with Primo Sportswear worth a total of E873 000.[7]
Stadium
[edit]The club plays its home matches at the Mayaluka Stadium which is also fully owned by the club and Ubombo Sugar.[8] The stadium is located in Mayaluka on the company's estate.[9]
Domestic results
[edit]- Key
Champion Runners-up 3rd Place
| Season | League | Notes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Div. | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | Pts. | ||
| 2022–23[10] | 2nd | 2nd | 26 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 54 | promoted to Premier League |
| 2023–24[11] | 1st | 7th | 26 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 34 | |
| 2024–25[12] | 7th | 26 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 35 | ||
| 2025–26 | ||||||||
References
[edit]- ^ "Global Sports Archive profile". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ^ "Illovo FC clinch promotion to MTN PLE with dramatic win over Rangers FC". News on Africa. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ^ a b Mlotsa, Mlusi. "Illovo to be Rebranded as Ubombo Sugar FC". The Eswatini Observer. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Illovo Back in Top Flight After 15 Years". Times of Eswatini. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ^ Maziya, Mthunzi. "Illovo aim for complete overhaul". Times of Eswatini. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ^ Myeni, Lindelwa. "Illovo FC now Ubombo Sugar FC, new kit revealed". Independent News Eswatini. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ Mkhabela, Melusi. "Illovo change to Ubombo Sugar". Eswatini News. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ Ntombikayise, Gwebu. "Ubombo Sugar Celebrates Illovo FC Promotion". Times of Eswatini. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ^ "Corporate Social Investment". Ubombo Sugar. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ^ Stokkermans, Karel. "Swaziland (Eswatini) 2022/23". RSSSF. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Swaziland (Eswatini) 2023/24". RSSSF. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ Stokkermans, Karel. "Swaziland (Eswatini) 2024/25". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 June 2025.