MBABANE – Recklessness is threatening to ruin the recent, costly renovations at the country’s football Mecca, Somhlolo National Stadium, following fresh acts of vandalism.
Over the past two financial years, Somhlolo underwent extensive refurbishments, earning partial approval from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after its 2022 ban.
Consequently, domestic clubs and Sihlangu were spared the exorbitant expense of hosting CAF Champions League, Confederation Cup, and International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup Qualifier matches in neighbouring South Africa and Mozambique.
Initially, local fixtures were restricted at the venue, despite the majority of supporters residing within the Mbabane-Manzini corridor.
However, the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs recently lifted these restrictions for domestic fixtures, culminating in the stadium hosting the MTN Premier League 2026/27 season’s flagship opening event. A double-header took place on Saturday, featuring several of the kingdom’s elite clubs.
In the opener, Mbabane Highlanders played out a goalless draw against Green Mamba. The main fixture saw Moneni Pirates secure a 1–0 victory over defending champions Nsingizini Hotspurs.
Regrettably, the aftermath revealed noticeable damage near the South Stand, adjacent to the area colloquially known as ‘No-Man’s Land’.
Sections of the pitch-side perimeter fencing had been torn from their supports, leaving the structure in urgent need of repair.
Furthermore, a checkpoint at Gate Two was uprooted earlier this year, undermining the progress achieved through recent upgrades. Vandalism at Somhlolo is an escalating issue. During the 2023/24 season’s Ingwenyama Cup semi-finals, dressing rooms were defaced with a black substance, prompting the ministry to claim roughly E10 000 in damages from the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE).
The PLE subsequently sought reimbursement from the four participating semi-finalists: Highlanders, Green Mamba, Mbabane Swallows and Young Buffaloes.
Additionally, Highlanders forfeited E50 000 from their MoMo Cup prize fund in 2023 after being held responsible for damaging the venue’s synthetic running track. Somhlolo was not the only venue affected over the weekend. The Mavuso Sports Centre suffered similar destruction, with supporters ripping up several bucket seats in the main grandstand to use during goal celebrations.
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