Times Of Swaziland: ‘WESLIANS’ TO KICK OFF CAF TOURNEY IN OCTOBER

‘WESLIANS’ TO KICK OFF CAF TOURNEY IN OCTOBER
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Chris Dlamini on 17/03/2021 13:57:00


MBABANE – The inaugural TOTAL CAF Women’s Champions League 2021 competition
will be held later this year.
CAF is an acronym for Confederation of African Football. While CAF has opened
bids for the hosting of the main tournament to be competed for by eight teams,
including the host country’s league champions, Eswatini also has a chance to
be represented in the last eight. The country’s Women Football League
champions last season, Manzini Wanderers, have already been officially informed
by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) about their expected participation in
the tournament.
However, it will all start with zonal qualifiers throughout the continent, with
only seven countries qualifying to join the yet-to-be known host country in the
main tournament. This means Wanderers must go through the southern zone
qualifiers which could be against giants South Africa, Botswana, Namibia,
Lesotho and Mauritius among others. CAFonline.com reported recently that they
were looking for bids from interested countries to host the main event. “The
Total CAF Women’s Champions League 2021 competition will be organised during
the period of October, November or December each year as per resolution of the
CAF Executive Committee,” read a statement in the CAF website.
Qualifiers
However, Wanderers are expected to start qualifiers next month or in May at the
latest. CAF is yet to give a directive to member associations as there should
also be a draw for the qualifiers. “National Associations are requested to
present their bidding files containing the stadiums (two stadiums are required)
and training facilities (four training sites at least), accommodation plans
(that can host the eight teams), in addition to the official government
guarantee,” the CAF statement added. The closing date to submit bids is March
31, 2021. Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Marketing and Communications
Officer Muzi Radebe could not give an immediate response.
Eswatini currently has its two main stadiums banned by CAF, with Mavuso Sports
Centre getting a special licence to host Guinea-Bissau next Friday in the Africa
Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cup 2021 Qualifiers. Due to COVID-19, CAF postponed the
main tournament to January 2022. The country’s soccer Mecca, Somhlolo National
Stadium, has been under refurbishment since the last official football match,
the Ingwenyama Cup final on March 8, last year.