EXCITEMENT OVER E6BN STADIUM PLAN

MBABANE – The sporting community is lauding government for its unwavering commitment to addressing the persistent challenge of inadequate stadium facilities in the country.

The administration has announced that Somhlolo National Stadium is set to reopen its doors and host international category ‘A’ matches in the first quarter of 2025. Additionally, plans are in place to commence the construction of a world-class stadium from 2026, alongside the decentralisation of multi-sports centres to tinkhundla areas. In response to this announcement, the Eswatini Football Association (EFA), which has been significantly impacted by the absence of a modern stadium, is optimistic about the potential improvement in sports once these commitments are realised.

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Muzi ‘Rhoo’ Radebe, EFA’s Marketing and Communications Officer, expressed that this development will elevate the standard of football and benefit the nation in various ways.
“Indeed, this is encouraging news regarding the finances that have been lost to other countries hosting these events. This will undoubtedly boost the economy and tourism, as our national teams and clubs will be able to bring their opponents to Eswatini. Moreover, the advantages of playing before a home crowd for our players cannot be overstated. One can only imagine the joy of fans watching their national team compete on home soil,” Radebe stated. Meanwhile, Maxwell Jele, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA), expressed enthusiasm for the news, linking it to their High Performance Sports Strategy.

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Jele commended government for this initiative, stating: “We are optimistic that an Olympic National Stadium, along with other sporting facilities, will create the right environment for nurturing high-level athletes who will compete in future Olympic Games. We have always believed in Eswatini’s potential; however, the critical gap has been the lack of sufficient and quality facilities. We wish the government every success in this undertaking and pledge our support throughout the process.”

Eric Gama, President of the Eswatini National Volleyball Association (ENVA), noted that the tinkhundla multi-sports centres will significantly enhance the growth of the sport. He views this initiative as a government effort to promote mass participation and collaborate with associations to engage the entire nation in physical activity. Gama highlighted the existing sports centres in Mtsambama and Sithobelweni, which have established volleyball teams ready for integration into ENVA.

“We can’t contain our excitement regarding this move, as it aligns with our vision to establish regional volleyball zonal leagues. It will also assist us in fulfilling our sponsors’ mandates, as some require us to host tournaments outside the Mbabane-Manzini corridor,” the president remarked. However, reactions from football fans on social media have been mixed.
While some welcomed the news and suggested that a 30 000-seater venue would be ideal for international matches and cup finals, others expressed scepticism. They voiced concerns over the increasing costs associated with the stadium, drawing parallels with other government capital projects that have faced budgetary issues.

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