MBABANE (8 August 2025): The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has given the Somhlolo National Stadium the thumbs up to host international games for the first time in almost 10 years.
A CAF technical assessment team that visited the country last week has approved Somhlolo is fit for use. The Government owned stadium was blacklisted after it failed to meet international standards in 2018. It is controlled by the Ministry of Sports and Culture who release it to the national Football Association for national and international games.
“The good news is that Somhlolo is now available for use after so many years. We have had to host our international games in South Africa since 2018. Playing away from home costs a lot – to play outside the country each game costs almost a million,” an excited Premier League spokesman Muzi Hadebe confirmed on the Sports Show on national radio.
He said access to the stadium is now the subject of ongoing talks with the Government to determine venue availability.
“Now that Somhlolo is available we anticipate we will make a lot of savings. But the major beneficiary will be the national team. EmaSwati will now find it easy to watch Sihlangu.”
Meanwhile, mystery continues to shroud Sihlangu coach Zdravko Logarusic. The coach has not been seen since 2024 and was absent when Sihlangu went into the Africa Cup qualifiers competitions. After he left the country, newspaper reports suggested in January that he was unveiled as coach for a Saudi Arabia team, ALTai. But Hadebe said Logarusic is still Sihlangu head coach in absentia.
“We are in contact with the coach. He called yesterday and said he is still on holiday. He is healthy and said he is ready to resume work as his holiday will end next week.”
On its website FA says Lugarusic plans to include a mix of experienced and young players in the squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier Matches against Cameroon and Libya. The national team will play away matches, having previously played a goalless draw against Cameroon and lost by 2-0 to Libya at the Mbombela Stadium which were home matches for Sihlangu SeMnikati.
It quotes Lugarusic stating: “I will choose a blend of experience and youth for the qualifiers.” With no official competitions currently being played in Eswatini; the players are in pre-season, with the 8-Bet Trade Fair Cup set to start on August 30, 2025. The coach is currently in Croatia but will return to Eswatini next week to prepare the team. He aims to announce the squad by the end of the third week of the month to allow for at least a week-long camp before the matches. Lugarusic also praised the efforts of local clubs in conditioning players for the upcoming season, recognizing the importance of pre-season preparation for the football clubs.
jm/today/08.08.2025
