Times of Eswatini

Mavuso slashes fees for AE athletes

- Chris Dlamini & Mengameli Mabuza Nimrod Hlophe

MBABANE – The season is over and Mbabane Highlander­s are not wasting any time clearing their vamp. As per the capital city giants’ Managing Director (MD) Chief

MBABANE – After facing challenges on accessing Mavuso Sports Centre, athletes can now breathe a sigh of relief.

This follows the slashing of training fees at the facility for athletes who want to use the running track for their training, ahead of competitio­ns especially internatio­nal ones – just what the facility was built for in the first place. The fees became a challenge and deprived athletes of the facility when they were set between E400 and E500 per individual, since last year. The facility is managed by Eswatini Investment and Trade Promotion Authority (EIPA).

Access

Around October 2022, it was reported that athletes were expected to pay around E400 to E500, in order to access it for training. Most of the affected athletes were those who used the gym and the track and field. The athletics governing body, Athletics Eswatini (AE) engaged EIPA on the matter, for possible adjustment­s

Ally Kgomongwe’s recent statement, that they would release some of their stars to open room for fresh talent and quality, it is already happening. They are renewing some contracts that needed to be dealt with, with players like Mandla Palma and Delisa Gama, the first to put pen to paper on Tuesday at their clubhouse and office in Ezulwini, of the fees with a formal letter. Following the fruitful negotiatio­ns between the parties, the prices have been dropped drasticall­y to E230 a day, for a group of eight athletes.

“We can now train at Mavuso

Goje Township. Kgomongwe had hosted an end-of-season braai for the team to celebrate their efforts throughout the recently ended season. They finished fourth, when their initial ambition was the title or runners-up, to qualify for either the TotalEnerg­ies CAF Champions League or CAF Confederat­ion Cup.

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at a much better price. We are expected to pay E230, which is a daily subscripti­on fee for a group of eight. Each athlete now has to pay E30, much lower than the E500,” the source said.

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 ?? Pics) (File ?? Mfanufikil­e ‘Fash’ Ndzimandze
Tshwarelo Bereng.
Pics) (File Mfanufikil­e ‘Fash’ Ndzimandze Tshwarelo Bereng.
 ?? (File pic) ?? The Eswatini Investment and Trade Promotion Authority and Athletics Eswatini are said to have agreed on new affordable rates for the use of the facility. Athletes can now subscribe in groups of eight, where they are expected to pay E230.
(File pic) The Eswatini Investment and Trade Promotion Authority and Athletics Eswatini are said to have agreed on new affordable rates for the use of the facility. Athletes can now subscribe in groups of eight, where they are expected to pay E230.

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