Africa-Press – Eswatini. A refurbished Somhlolo National Stadium, meeting FIFA international standards, will be available for use from April. The ongoing phase II of the stadium’s refurbishment, which includes the installation of the artificial turf, rehabilitation of the synthetic track, construction of a media tribune and upgrading of the public address system, will be complete by the end of the current financial year, March 30, 2022.
This is according to the ministry of sports, culture and youth affairs report tabled to Parliament yesterday.
Phase II saw E15 million channelled towards it to add the E10 million set aside for phase I. Phase I was mainly the rehabilitation of dressing rooms to meet FIFA international standards.
A further E15 million has been transferred to Microprojects, the ministry’s implementing organ for phase three, 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 costs of the Somhlolo National Stadium will upgrade shoot up to E40 million. According to Communications Officer in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Sibongiseni Zondo, the stadium will be able to host events after the completion of phase two at the end of March, while phase three continues on the sidelines.
In their report to Parliament, the ministry explained that the delay in the stadium upgrade was due to unavailability of materials from suppliers. “The COVID-19 pandemic has stalled the manufacturing of the material in Italy, where it is sourced. Further delays were due to shipment challenges,” the report reads. In the current financial year, the department of sports was allocated a total budget of E15 840 943 as announced by the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg last Friday.
This budget includes a subvention of E7 724 710 to the Eswatini Sports and Recreation Council, and a grant of E5 million to the Eswatini Football Association. The ministry’s financials also show an under expenditure of seven per cent. The under-expenditure is mainly due to the low monthly utility bills for Somhlolo National Stadium because it is currently not operational.
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