E19M FOR SOMHLOLO VVIP, TOILETS

MBABANE – It will cost government an arm and a leg to upgrade Somhlolo National Stadium to international standard.

An extra E35 million was allocated for the next stage (phase four) of the upgrade of the national stadium. The money which was tabled by Minister of Finance Rijkenberg for the stadium showed an increment from the previous year’s E15 million, which was used for phase three of the rehabilitation. This is as per the estimates released after the presentation of the national budget speech by Minister of Rijkenberg, this past Monday. As per the budget estimates document, the new-look for Somhlolo will have, among other features, a E10 million VVIP hospitality area  and E9 million sewer and toilets. As per the breakdown, up to E3 million will be channelled into a media room; E2 million for VIP gate; E3 million for giant screen; and E2 million for backup generator. Government has further budgeted E1 million for a retractable tunnel. Up to E5 million is for professional fees and contingencies. Over E100 million had already been spent in upgrading the venue at the time of compiling this report.

Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima expressed hope that the stadium would be approved to host international games after the upgrade. An inspection is expected to be conducted by a team from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) by mid-year. Meanwhile, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Communications Officer Sibongiseni Zondi, said it was difficult to give timelines on the completion of phase four of the rehabilitation programme. Zondi said it was hard to reveal when the phase four upgrade of the stadium would start, as they were still in the 2023/24 financial year. Government’s financial year runs between April 1 and March 31 the following year. “For now, it would be difficult to draw up a concrete timeline regarding the commencement of phase four of the rehabilitation,” Zondi said.

He said the funds in question would be released to the ministry in the upcoming financial year and once that was done, they would then update the nation. He further shared that the ministry in phase three installed a new perimeter fence with automated entry points and extended the VIP section and tunnels, among other things. On another note, the stadium was banned by both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) from hosting category ‘A’ matches. The ban was imposed in 2019, which forced the country’s envoys in continental inter-clubs competitions and the national team, Sihlangu, to host opponents outside the country’s borders, mainly South Africa.

Government, on the other hand, is constructing recreational facilities across the four regions. In northern Hhohho, up to E5 million has been budgeted for the construction of Ntfonjeni Sports Arena. As per the breakdown of the project, at least E200 000 will be for preliminaries and general; E1.6 million for external works; E750 000 for a football field; E500 000 for toilets; E1.7 million for mini-hall (dressing rooms and indoor games) and E250 000 for fencing.

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