E1.7M CAF BILL GROUNDS ‘BIRDS’

MBABANE – Mbabane Swallows Acting President Absalom Ngwenya revealed the club are grappling with serious financial challenges after their recent CAF Champions League campaign.

The reigning MTN Premier League champions were recently involved in the TotalEnergies Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League. Swallows have played both Mozambique’s Clube Ferroviário da Beira and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa away from their home ground. They faced the Mozambican side in Pretoria at Lucas Moripe Stadium and subsequently played the second leg against the Matola-based team at Black Bull Stadium in Mozambique, emerging victorious with a 1-0 aggregate score.

Suffered

In contrast, they hosted Sundowns at their South African venue, where they suffered a 0-8 aggregate defeat. In an interview yesterday, Ngwenya revealed that the team had spent an estimated E1.7 million in their participation in the CAF Champions League. He admitted the financial difficulties faced by the club as a result of their involvement in the continental competition, indicating a significant budgetary strain that has placed a burden on the team’s resources.

“I can attest to the substantial financial investment our team made in the recent CAF Champions League tournament. The total amount spent exceeded E1.7 million, representing a significant strain on our resources. This highlights the ongoing challenges that African clubs face in their quest for success in continental competitions, and underscores the urgent need for improved funding mechanisms and financial support to ensure the long-term viability and competitiveness of our teams,” he said.

Substantial

The acting president of Umkhonto KaShaka disclosed that the team had spent a substantial amount of money on venues, accommodation and match officials during their recent participation in the CAF Champions League. In light of these challenges, Ngwenya called upon companies and individuals to support the team in its ongoing efforts to compete at the highest level of African club football. “I humbly appeal to the generosity of our nation’s corporate entities and passionate individuals to consider investing in our club. The significant expenditure of E1.7 million in the CAF Champions League has left our team in a precarious financial position, jeopardising our ability to continue competing at the highest level. I implore potential investors to join us in our mission to elevate African club football and secure a bright future for the team,” Ngwenya said. According to sources close to the matter, Swallows have incurred approximately E100 000 in hosting costs in Pretoria alone.

Additional expenses for accommodation, training, preparations, travel and other logistics for these CAF matches could well exceed E900 000. According to an insider within Swallows’ organisation, the preliminary game against Ferroviário da Beira proved to be an expensive venture, costing the club a staggering E240 000. “This hefty expenditure was largely due to the team’s unexpected obligation to provide transportation for the opposing team.” the source said. Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr Patrice Motsepe confirmed that Mbabane Swallows and Nsingizini Hotspurs will each receive E894 315  (approximately US$50 000) as a participation fee for their involvement in the CAF inter-club competition’s preliminary round at the end of the season.

Somhlolo National Stadium, on the other hand, has been undergoing rehabilitation for over four years and has been deemed unfit by CAF to host international matches.
Consequently, the national team has been compelled to play their home games in neighbouring South Africa.

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