Africa-Press – Eswatini. After spending in excess of E30 million refurbishing Somhlolo National Stadium, Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga has encouraged EFA to appeal CAF’s decision on the venue.
Somhlolo was again declared not fit to host category A Confederation of African Football (CAF) matches as it does not meet FIFA standards.
Government, through the ministry of sports, has addressed a major part of the issues which included dressing rooms and the pitch only for the CAF inspectors to flag more areas of concern in last week’s inspection.
CAF’s areas of concern will require more funds and time and include a need to explore the possibility of renovating the players’ tunnel according to Bulunga.
“Such work may require the complete demolition of huge parts of the entire main stand. The report also calls for the installation of a giant screen and modern electronic access controls and automated counting systems,” he said in a statement.
Bulunga revealed that his ministry encouraged the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) to appeal this decision to CAF as its implications would be detrimental not just to national teams but also to football clubs who have always shown a strong desire to participate in CAF inter-club competitions.
“The demands articulated by CAF in the latest report will require extensive work, in turn requiring millions more.
“Realistically, it may take years for all these demands to be met thus condemning our national teams and clubs to hosting away from home for the foreseeable future. It is not an exaggeration to suspect that this decision may ultimately compel our clubs and national teams to stay away from international competitions due to the exorbitant costs it will come with,”
He added that this was against the spirit of inclusion that the sport should be based on.
Government already invests heavily to support the development of football in Eswatini, which on top of this ongoing rehabilitation of Somhlolo Stadium, also supports football national team activities with a E5 million annual grant, the most of any sport.
Government has also facilitated the allocation of land for the EFA to construct technical centres across the country.
“It is our wish that CAF reconsiders its decision, considering the stresses faced by small economies like ours, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19,”
The ministry has already fixed several areas within the venue such as the artificial turf, massive facelift of the dressing rooms which are complying with COVID -19 standards and installation of new synthetic track, among others.
The developments could force the Eswatini Football Association to host Sihlangu home matches away from home in the upcoming 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
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