Mavuso Banned From Hosting International Games

The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) may have about two weeks to find an alternative venue to host the upcoming Sihlangu Semnikati and Guinea Bissau encounter scheduled for 26^th March 2021.

The CAF match was to be played at the Mavuso Sports Centre however, CAF has since informed the EFA that the game cannot be hosted at this venue as it is now considered below CAF Stadium Requirement.

The suspension of the Mavuso Sport Centre means that the Kingdom of Eswatini no longer has a venue or stadium suitable for hosting international match as the Somhlolo National Stadium had also been ruled our few years ago.  

“EFA, hereby takes this opportunity to inform here stakeholders that CAF has since decided that the forthcoming AFCON 2021 Qualifiers match (Match 5) against Guinea Bissau, cannot be hosted at Mavuso Sports Centre in Manzini, Eswatin, as on analysis, CAF considers the venue to no longer conform to the CAF Stadium Requirement to host international matches,” read a statement that was released EFA yesterday.

According to this statement, CAT highlighted the following deficient for banning the venue:

1. The pitch conditions which are considered poor
2. The dressing rooms which are now viewed to be not of high-quality standard
3. The general renovation work, where CAF has stated that the stadium needs to be fully modernized to host international matches. 

The EFA revealed that they are trying to collaborate with various stakeholders for the execution of the hosting of the forthcoming match as directed by CAF but has expressed that some of the elements that were prescribed as deficient were impractical to address within the restricted timeframe.