E10M SIHLANGU BILL IRKS MPS

LOBAMBA – Members of Parliament (MPs) have rejected Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Minister Bongani Nzima’s report detailing expenses incurred by Sihlangu when hosting away.

Sihlangu host their games at Mbombela in Nelspruit, South Africa, since Somhlolo National Stadium was declared unfit to host category ‘A’ international matches, over three years ago. In his report in Parliament yesterday, Minister Nzima shared that the country is paying up to E983 000 to host each match away. Up to E10.267 million has been spent so far, but these costs do not include expenses of clubs who represent Eswatini in Africa inter-club competitions. Fans’ travelling costs are also not included in this lump sum.

“Our tourism sector has lost over E3 million while vendors are denied a chance to sell their wares locally,” said the minister. The report irked other MPs, as they felt it is incomplete. Timphisini MP Thulani Nsingwane asked for the report to be rejected, saying it is not comprehensive and further lacked a response plan and timelines of addressing the challenges of hosting away. He was supported by two other legislators. In jest, Ntondozi MP Vulinjini Ngwenya had the House in stitches when he said Sihlangu were losing games to avoid incurring further costs of hosting away.

The MPs demanded solutions of arresting the challenge, saying the ministry should be exploring options to have an investor build a new stadium. Notable, even government, through the Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, has acknowledged the urgent need for a stadium, but there are no timelines attached.Minister Nzima, in a brief response, shared that there is a short-term plan of renovating Somhlolo to meet international standards but they are operating on a limited budget. He said the allocated E35 million is not enough, as the costs have shot up to over E60 million.

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