Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) has reportedly spent close to E1 million to cater for Sihlangu Semnikati’s home games played in South Africa.
This came after the ban of Somhlolo National Stadium and Mavuso Sports Centre from hosting international games as they were declared not fit and below the required standard by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The rented stadiums are said to cost E200 000 per game, and this amounts to E800 000 for all the four games played in South Africa, inclusing of course the other logistics that come with such games.
According to information from impeccable sources within the football association, renting an international stadium costs a lot of money.
Sihlangu’s first game was against Somalia in the preliminary round of the AFCON 2023 Qualifiers played in March last year at Mbombela Stadium.
In a match played at FNB Stadium on June 7, 2022 against Burkina Faso, the football mother body paid E200 000 for services of the 2010 World Cup final host venue.
The booking fees vary at FNB Stadium, as they depend on the nature and magnitude of the event, but it can sometimes shoot up to more than E500 000 per event.
At Mbombela Stadium, prices range from around E170 000 to E400 000. Other games played at Mbombela were the 2023 AFCON Qualifiers against Cape Verde and Togo.
The country is expected to be represented by Green Mamba and Young Buffaloes in the next CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup outings, respectively.
This means if the issue of stadium is not solved, the two clubs could fork out this high amount for their home games.
EFA Marketing Officer Muzi Radebe said it was costly to rent a stadium outside the country, but declined to reveal any figures.
“I cannot disclose the charges for now, but yes it is very costly to rent stadiums, as you pay for almost everything, including offices and small things such as ball boys. So I can only agree that it is very expensive to host games outside the country,” he said.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
