BY MACHAWE FAKUDZE AND NIMROD HLOPHE
(At Ezulwini Palazzo ICC)
EZULWINI – There is light at the end of the tunnel!
His Majesty King Mswati III has revealed that Minister for Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, will include a funding provision in the upcoming national budget allocation to construct a world-class 50 000-seater stadium. The landmark project is even larger than the facility initially directed during the 2025/26 Ingwenyama Cup final at Somhlolo National Stadium.
In the Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (SMVAF)-sponsored Ingwenyama Cup, Nsingizini Hotspurs were crowned champions after defeating Green Mamba 1-0, courtesy of a goal by Ayanda ‘Gandaganda’ Gadlela, who has since joined Royal Leopard.
During that match, the King issued a Royal Command for government to construct a 40 000-seater stadium, noting that Somhlolo National Stadium could no longer accommodate the growing numbers of supporters attending high-profile fixtures.
His Majesty called on Cabinet and the nation to look to the future and construct a facility that meets international standards and one that the national team can utilise in their quest to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup.
“I want to inform the nation now that the country has advanced in looking at the issues of the stadium, because this requires planning, which is very important to prepare finances. We are busy working on that, and soon you will hear good news about the stadium,” the King said at the Ezulwini Palazzo ICC on Wednesday night.
The King revealed that the country has already engaged designers, emphasising that the country now targets a 50 000-seater venue to boost the courage and confidence of national teams.
“I have attended the AFCON and World Cup and noted that those stadiums usually accommodate 100 000 people. As we are at an early stage, we will construct half of those stadiums,” the King noted.
His Majesty expressed optimism that the project will be factored into upcoming national budgets by Rijkenberg, alongside contributions from development partners and private investors partnering with government.
The King added that the proposed stadium would match the aesthetic and structural excellence of the Ezulwini Palazzo ICC, serving to inspire and motivate players.
“We would like to applaud the Sincephetelo Fund for continuing to foster support towards reaching these goals and exploring how they can assist the nation in building such stadiums,” he said.
Meanwhile, His Majesty further expressed his wish for Sihlangu to win the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and eventually conquer the FIFA World Cup. However, he noted that achieving such a monumental goal requires a world-class facility where the national team can prepare adequately for international competition.
The king visualised a triumphant scenario where the country claims one of these prestigious trophies, culminating in a momentous gathering at the Palazzo ICC to present and celebrate such a historic achievement.
