AS COFFERS RUN DRY ... EFA IN E1.3M DILEMMA

MBABANE – The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) is reportedly relying on external assistance for securing this week’s trip to Mauritius.

The bill for the trip has been calculated at E1.3 million. Despite arranging flights and accommodation, the costs of E880 000 for air tickets and E480 000 for lodging have left the association distressed. A source close to the situation disclosed that EFA convened a meeting last week, prioritising the urgent need to secure funding for two trips related to the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers.

Having already suffered a 0-2 defeat to Madagascar in the first leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium in South Africa, Sihlangu are set to face a formidable challenge in the return leg, scheduled for this Sunday at the Cote d’Or National Sports Complex in Mauritius, kicking off at 2pm. While around E500 000 was secured for the initial trip to Pretoria, garnering financial backing for the Mauritius trip has proved daunting. Madagascar are hosting the game in Mauritius, as they also do not have an internationally-approved stadium.

Difficulties

“The trip has presented significant difficulties for EFA due to its absence from the budget. This tournament is not on the FIFA calendar, which is why EFA is struggling to finance it. The only viable solution was to arrange the trip on credit. Accommodation costs around E480 000, while air tickets amount to E880 000 for a 30-member delegation,” the source explained. It was reported that EFA plans to settle the credit bill in January, when they hope to receive approximately over E10 million from FIFA (International Federation of Association Football).

Finances

EFA Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe could only say that issues relating to finances are administrative and are only discussed during the General Assembly. The reporter wanted to know whether the trip to Mauritius was funded using credit on top of establishing if the EFA was currently facing difficulties in financing trips for the CHAN. This publication also wanted to establish how the EFA planned to repay the credit used for this trip.

By the time this report was compiled, Radebe had not responded to the enquiries sent via WhatsApp. A notable parallel can be drawn with Zimbabwe’s national team during the 2021 CHAN tournament, when the Zimbabwe Football Association grappled with severe financial constraints that hindered its ability to fund preparations and travel for the event.

Economic challenges and a lack of sponsorship created significant obstacles in organising logistics for the players and coaching staff. For Sihlangu, the stakes are high; they must secure a victory by at least three goals to qualify for the CHAN finals, scheduled for February 1-28, 2025, in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.

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