WHAT A HUGE EMBARRASSMENT

My dearest readers ...

Now that you have read the story on the back page ... oh no, you haven’t! You always like to start reading your weekly sports nuggets, the State-of-the-Nation-Sports-Address (SONSA). Fine by me. But this time, with my permission of course, please read the story on the back page. Yes, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. No, you have not drunk enough Scottish waters to sedate a baby elephant. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) in its infinite wisdom, has declared the Mavuso Sports Centre a venue not up-to CAF required standards, therefore not fit to host the upcoming AFCON qualifier pitting Sihlangu against the ‘African Wild Dogs’ of Guinea Bissau on Tuesday, March 23. This is not my fertile imagination but a communiqué from the African football mother body has landed on the in-tray box of Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Sigwaca House offices, alerting the local football organisation to look for an alternative venue as quickly as by end of business tomorrow.

Say your say Acting CAF General Secretary, Abdelmounaim Bah. “With reference to the CAF circular dated 2nd February 2021, related to the upcoming AFCON qualifiers, we confirm the receipt of the stadium report, photo and video evidence of Mavuso stadium. Unfortunately, based on the report, we regret to inform you that Mavuso Stadium does not meet the CAF stadium requirements and consequently will not be available for the AFCON qualifier.” Bah’s letter’s parting shot was like a stab in the heart of every right-thinking citizen of this country. “Therefore and in light of the unavailability of other CAF approved stadiums for this type of competition in your country, a decision has been taken not to allow your FA to play the upcoming match in your territory hence you will have to select approved stadiums in countries of other CAF member associations.” Ladies and gentlemen, let’s for a moment, observe a minute of silence because, this by any standards is the greatest tragedy to befall our country’s football. It is a huge embarrassment ever since one Papy Faty died inside a soccer pitch at Killarney Stadium in Pigg’s Peak on that fateful Thursday afternoon of April 25, 2019.

Indictment

It is an indictment to all those who are in football or sports bodies leadership. For the first time in the new millennium, our country’s national team, Sihlangu Semnikati, will be forced to play its home game away from home. This is no laughing matter. It is a big ostrich egg, splashed all over our football leaders’ faces. We have decried the fact that we have no proper stadium in this country. Somhlolo National Stadium has been declared a health hazard by the self-same CAF because it looked almost the same since it was opened for use in 1967. We have raised this issue with every Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs since the ministry was established, but millions have been poured to its rehabilitation over the years but as I peck this laptop keyboard it is also undergoing a facelift. We are told the last phase of the facelift could be finished by end of next month. Blame it on the COVID-19 pandemic or lack of funds but this dilly-dallying and procrastination has caught up with us.  As things stand, the EFA has to find an alternative venue – quickly. This will obviously come at a huge cost to an organisation that is already bursting at the seams trying to keep its supposed ‘commercial wing’, the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) functioning.

Inactive

Meanwhile, the whole sporting industry is inactive, on partial lockdown, inspite of football taking all the necessary steps to ensure safety. The sporting industry is dying a slow, excruciating death right before our eyes while we give excuses and hope government will have a damascene conversion to think outside the box and finally realise sports, football in particular, is a multi-million industry worth giving it the respect it so richly deserves. This latest embarrassment to visit our football and our country, is but a stark reality that we cannot dry today’s washing on yesterday’s sun. Mr Minister, Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga, I am still awaiting your confirmation on our tea meeting....even if it’s in South Africa, where Sihlangu will play its home game away from home! I earnestly give up ...

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