Africa-Press – Eswatini. A Royal Leopard delegation is expected to be on its way to the city of Mbombela (South Africa) or Mozambique today to secure a venue where they will host their home games.
The country’s Total Energies CAF Confederation Cup envoys have been banned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) from using Mavuso Sports Centre because it does not meet international standards for category A CAF matches.
The Mbombela Stadium is a football and Rugby Union all-seater stadium in Mbombela, formerly Nelspruit in nearby Mpumalanga Province and was built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It was one of 10 venues for the tournament and one of five newly constructed stadiums.
It is an all-seater stadium, with 40 929 seats, almost all under roof. A top South Africa-born journalist, speaking on condition of anonymity, said renting Mbombela Stadium could cost upwards of E400 000. For other venues like Cape Town Stadium in the Western Cape, the rental fee is E700 000.
Through the Eswatini Football Association (EFA), Leopard have sent an SOS to neighbouring associations, the South African Football Association and the Mozambique Football Federation for a venue before Friday’s deadline.
Communication
“There are constant communications between the club, EFA and the owners of the competition CAF and once everything has been finalised, a communiqué will be released. What is clear is that what CAF has suggested or ruled upon must be followed to the letter,” said EFA Communications and Marketing Officer Muzi Radebe when reached yesterday.
In a correspondence sent to the office of the EFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngomezulu on Monday, CAF banned Mavuso Sports Centre for failing to meet mandatory standards. Effectively, this means that Leopard will have to play their home matches away from home in their Total Energies CAF Confederation Cup group stages. In its report following another round of inspection, CAF noted that the Mavuso pitch is in poor condition. The quality and maintenance of the field of play is a big concern according to CAF.
CAF added that the current substitutes and match officials’ benches are very poor and not up to the required standards. It suggests that an installation of new international standard, modern and comfortable benches for teams and officials must be carried out with each of the two benches covered, be at pitch level with a seating room for 20 persons.
In another of the many concerns, CAF said the dressing rooms’ size and space is not enough to accommodate 24 players and teams’ officials. “Considering that the venues selected do not meet the requirements for CAF interclub competitions, the team in question will have to play its matches in an approved stadium outside its territory and the venue will have to be selected among the stadiums approved by CAF,” the continental body said.
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