Eswatini risks ban, E80k fine

MBABANE – There were no live updates!

That was the case with the recent Confederation of African Football (CAF) inter-club competitions, where the giant screen did not provide live updates if the games at Somhlolo National Stadium.

Somhlolo has a screen that was required by the continental body as part of the conditions that needed to be fulfilled for the venue to receive approval to host international matches.

Its installation was among the key upgrades that helped the local soccer ‘Mecca’ get a partial approval last August after it had been frozen since 2022. However, the screen was not used during the recent Champions League and Confederation Cup preliminary fixtures.

This past Saturday, the giant screen remained switched off for the entire duration of Nsingizini Hotspurs’ match against Zimbabwe’s Scottland Football Club (FC). The same situation occurred on Saturday, September 5, when Green Mamba hosted Clube Desportivo 1º de Agosto of Angola in the Confederation Cup. Both ties were first preliminary round matches.

The presence of a functional high-definition giant screen is usually a prerequisite for matchday information and flow, providing the crowd with real-time official match data such as the running score and official timekeeping.

This was the case last season at the same stage when Nsingizini faced Simba Bhora of Zimbabwe and when Royal Leopard took on AS Maniema Union of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Meanwhile, the stadium owners, the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, have said the screen is still intact.

The Communications Officer Phumaphi Msweli on Friday referred all queries to the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) for an explanation as to why the screen was switched off during Green Mamba’s match. Msweli also suggested waiting to see whether the same issue would arise during Hotspurs’ game.

Close sources who have been part of the logistics of the matches concurred with the ministry on the screen functionality, saying the screen would be tested a day before the fixtures, switched on and found to be functioning properly. It wondered why there was then a blackout during the actual games.

However, EFA Marketing and Communications Manager Muzi ‘Rhoo’ Radebe, when reached for comment, referred the matter to the clubs, saying they were responsible for their own fixtures. Radebe added that the association’s role was only to offer guidance.

Correctional Services side Green Mamba’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ntuthuko Dlamini stated that the screen had been tested and found to be working.

Dlamini said their match commissioner had indicated that at this stage of the tournament it might be optional to beam live updates of the game.

On the other hand, Hotspurs Public Relations Officer (PRO) Montfo Dlamini said nothing official had reached his office regarding venue booking agreements or the giant screen.

However, Saturday’s Match Commissioner, Lesotho’s Tebalo Mpiti, said they had also observed the screen blackout and would include it in their match report to CAF.

For preliminary rounds of inter-club competitions (CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup), stadiums generally must meet Category Two or Three standards. Somhlolo got Category Three approval. Under Article 29, a venue must have at least a functional, clear electronic scoreboard capable of showing clock and match scores, though CAF strongly mandates or prefers a full giant video screen.

Failure to provide operational electronic scoreboards or giant screens attracts direct fines issued by the CAF Disciplinary Board against the host Member Association or Club (typically ranging from US$5 000 (about E80 000 to US$20 000 (E630 000 )per fixture depending on the stage of the competition).

Stadiums missing mandatory technical equipment fail CAF licensing inspections. The venue may be downgraded to a lower category, making it ineligible to host other upcoming fixtures, especially Sihlangu matches.

It is worth noting that the giant screen at Somhlolo has been functional for even domestic matches, including the Ingwenyama Cup Final played on May 10, 2026.

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