… Sihlangu to play back-to-back AFCON qualifiers against Cape Verde on neutral venue
BY SABELO GWEBU
SOCCER – Now on the third and last phase of the Somhlolo National Stadium refurbishment, the government’s spending on this project will reach E45 million at the conclusion.
The first phase of the rehabilitation cost E10 million and it included the modernising of dressing rooms and lighting system. According to the Micro Projects 2020-2022 report, the unit completed the rehabilitation and upgrade of Somhlolo National Stadium including dressing rooms, installation of an artificial pitch, laying of an athletics synthetic track, media room, irrigation system, and Public Announcement (PA) system.
All of the above cost a combined E30 million and its report was tabled in parliament by the ministry of sports, culture, and youth affairs. The third and last phase to cost an extra E15 million will include the rehabilitation of the facility’s main sewer line, erection of a wall fence, and an e-ticketing gate system among other things.
As a result, the stadium remains closed as work is underway. Previously, government’s assistant spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said there is no specific time on when work will be concluded.
Meanwhile, out of the 48 African countries that will compete in next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, 24, including Eswatini do not have approved stadiums which means they will have to play their home games on neutral ground.
Egypt has the highest number of approved stadiums (six), followed by Algeria and Morocco with five approved stadiums each. Sihlangu will be involved in back-to-back matches in March against Cape Verde and highly likely, the senior football national team will get a venue in neighbouring South Africa. Previously, the Eswatini Football Association used the FNB Stadium and Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg.
