{{Short description|Association football club in Eswatini}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Mbabane Highlanders FC | image = Mbabane Highlanders.png | fullname = Mbabane Highlanders Football Club | nickname = ''Ezimnyama Ngenkani'' | founded = {{start date and age|1952}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.times.co.sz/sports/86205-low-landers-in-sea-of-heartbreak.html|title=Low-Landers in sea of heartbreak!|work=[[Times of Swaziland]]|first=Dumisani|last=Ntiwane|date=10 April 2013|accessdate=6 February 2021}}</ref> | ground = [[Somhlolo National Stadium]]<br>[[Lobamba]], [[Eswatini]] | capacity = 20,000 | manager = | league = [[Premier League of Eswatini]] | season = [[2024–25 Premier League of Eswatini|2025/26]] | position = 5th of 16 | pattern_la1 =_ | pattern_b1 =_thingoldsides | pattern_sh1 = _adidasgold | pattern_ra1 = _ | pattern_so1 = _3 stripes gold | leftarm1 = 000000 | body1 = 000000 | rightarm1 = 000000 | shorts1 = 000000 | socks1 = ffffff | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 =_thingoldsides | pattern_ra2 = | pattern_sh2= _adidasgold | pattern_so2 =_ 3 stripes gold | leftarm2 = ffffff | body2 = ffffff | rightarm2 = ffffff | shorts2 = ffffff | socks2 = 000000 }}
'''Mbabane Highlanders''' is a [[Eswatini|Liswati]] [[association football|football]] club based in [[Mbabane]]. They have won more national titles than any other club, although their most recent league title was in 2001.
In July 2025, [[Shauwn Mkhize]] was unveiled as club president, and the club was rebranded as Mbabane Highlanders AM,<ref>{{Cite web |last=David |date=2025-07-13 |title='My world, My rules': MaMkhize takes over another top club |url=https://iharare.com/my-world-my-rules-mamkhize-takes-over-another-top-club/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=iHarare News |language=en-GB}}</ref> AM standing for the initials of Mkhize's son, Andile Mpisane.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Biyela |first=Lunga |date=2025-06-12 |title=Andile Mpisane set for football return after his mother Shauwn Mkhize buys another club |url=https://thestar.co.za/sport/soccer/2025-07-11-andile-mpisane-set-for-football-return-after-his-mother-shauwn-mkhize-buys-another-club/ |access-date=2025-07-17 |website=The Star |language=en}}</ref> Mkhize previously owned [[South African Premiership]] club [[Royal AM F.C.|Royal AM]], which was expelled from the league after the [[South African Revenue Service]] issued a preservation order against the club for unpaid tax debt.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ngidi |first=Tashreeq Vardien and Njabulo |title=Royal AM out! PSL votes overwhelmingly to expel club from SA football |url=https://www.news24.com/sport/soccer/psl/psls-bog-vote-overwhelmingly-in-favour-of-royal-am-expulsion-20250410 |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref>
As part of Mkhize's unveiling, the club changed its colours from black and white, to black and gold, and unveiled a new logo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kamko |first=Aphiwe |title=She’s back! MaMkhize returns as president of Mbabane Highlanders AM FC |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/shes-back-mamkhize-returns-as-president-of-mbabane-highlanders-am-fc-20250715-0586 |access-date=2025-07-17 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In August 2025, Mkhize's ownership of the club was confirmed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dube |first=Mthokozisi |date=2025-08-04 |title=MaMkhize gets green light to run Mbabane Highlanders |url=https://farpost.co.za/2025/08/04/mamkhize-gets-green-light-to-run-mbabane-highlanders/ |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=FARPost |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
== Fan violence == Following the concession of a goal against [[Nsingizini Hotspurs F.C.|Nsingizini Hotspurs]] in the 2026 [[Ingwenyama Cup]], fans invaded the field and beat up the referee.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Biyela |first=Lunga |date= |title=MaMkhize’s club in chaos: Fans violently beat up referee after cup loss |url=https://iol.co.za/sport/soccer/psl/2026-02-23-mamkhizes-club-in-chaos-fans-violently-beat-up-referee-after-cup-loss/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=IOL |language=en}}</ref>
The club was found guilty of causing the abandonment of the match, was expelled from the competition, and subsequently fined E50 000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 11, 2026 |title=Guilty Shauwn Mkhize’s team Mbabane Highlanders AM kicked out of tournament for causing violence in Eswatini {{!}} Goal.com South Africa |url=https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/guilty-shauwn-mkhize-s-team-mbabane-highlanders-am-kicked-out-of-tournament-for-causing-violence-in-eswatini/blt2d24880e9f80aa62 |access-date=2026-04-09 |website=www.goal.com |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=read |first=Foot Africa·1 min |date=March 11, 2026 |title=MaMkhize's club slapped with heavy sanctions in Eswatini |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mamkhizes-club-slapped-heavy-sanctions-112500307.html |access-date=2026-04-09 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Achievements== * '''[[Swazi Premier League]]: 13''' :: 1974, 1976, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001. * '''[[Swazibank Cup]]: 7''' :: 1983, 1985, 1990, 1997, 1999, 2009, 2010. * '''[[Swazi Charity Cup]]: 5''' :: 1998, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2019. * '''[[Swazi Trade Fair Cup]]: 1''' :: 1999. * '''[[Bible Cup]]: 2''' :: 2022 :: 2023
==Performance in CAF competitions== * '''[[CAF Champions League]]: 1 appearance''' ::[[CAF Champions League 2001|2001]] – Preliminary Round * '''[[African Cup of Champions Clubs]]: 7 appearances''' ::[[African Cup of Champions Clubs 1977|1977]] – withdraw ::[[African Cup of Champions Clubs 1981|1981]] – First Round ::[[African Cup of Champions Clubs 1983|1983]] – First Round ::[[African Cup of Champions Clubs 1985|1985]] – First Round ::[[African Cup of Champions Clubs 1987|1987]] – First Round ::[[African Cup of Champions Clubs 1993|1993]] – Preliminary Round ::[[African Cup of Champions Clubs 1996|1996]] – First Round * '''[[CAF Confederation Cup]]: 4 appearances'''
::[[2010 CAF Confederation Cup|2010]] – Preliminary Round ::[[2011 CAF Confederation Cup|2011]] – Preliminary Round ::[[2013 CAF Confederation Cup|2013]] - Preliminary Round ::[[2022–23 CAF Confederation Cup|2022–23]] - Preliminary round * '''[[CAF Cup Winners' Cup]]: 3 appearances''' ::[[1981 African Cup Winners' Cup|1981]] – withdraw ::[[1984 African Cup Winners' Cup|1984]] – First Round ::[[1991 African Cup Winners' Cup|1991]] – First Round
==References== {{Reflist}}
[[Category:Football clubs in Eswatini]] [[Category:Football clubs in Mbabane]] [[Category:Sports clubs and teams in Mbabane]] [[Category:1952 establishments in Swaziland]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1952]]
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