Africa-Press – Eswatini. THE world football governing body FIFA has completed the inspection of Somhlolo National Stadium.
As such, the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) is now waiting for a certificate from FIFA that will give green light to the country to host Category A CAF matches.
However, until the certification is produced, the venue will not be used. Highly likely, Royal Leopard will be able to play their last home game on April 3 in the Total CAF Confederation Cup against JS Saoura of Algeria at Somhlolo but Sihlangu will surely use Mbombela Stadium as their temporal home when they welcome Somalia in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) preliminary qualifying match next Sunday, March 27.
The latest news were confirmed by Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga when delivering his ministry’s activity report for the ending financial year and presentation of the 2022/23 budget in the Senate yesterday.
A refurbished Somhlolo National Stadium, meeting FIFA international standards, will also be open to local clubs once the certification process has been concluded.
“We have taken a precaution not to tamper with the works done at the stadium until the certification process is complete, hence it will remain closed. “Otherwise, works have been concluded under Phase II of the project and we will ask the honourable members to take a tour of the venue next week with the permission of Senate president (Lindiwe Dlamini),” Bulunga said.
The concluded Phase II of the stadium’s refurbishment include the installation of a new artificial turf, rehabilitation of the synthetic running track, construction of a media tribune and upgrading of the public address system.
This particular phase saw E15 million channelled to it to add on Phase 1’s E10 million.
The first phase was mainly the rehabilitation of dressing rooms to meet FIFA international standards.
A further E15 million has been transferred to Micro-Projects, the ministry’s implementing organ for Phase III, which is the construction of a security wall fence, installation of crowd control systems, refurbishment of the Royal Box and upgrading of toilets and connection of sewer line to public mains.
This means that the cost of the Somhlolo National Stadium upgrade could shoot to E40 million.
The ministry’s Communications Officer Sibongiseni Zondo earlier said that the stadium will be able to host events after the completion of Phase II while Phase III is in progress.
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