G. Mamba spends over E1m in CCL
MBABANE – Unbelievable! This is the story of MTN Premier League defending Champions Green Mamba, who are not ready to represent the country in the TotalEnergies Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League (CCL), in the event they successfully defend the title.
The Correctional Services outfit was the country’s envoys in the 2022/23 edition and was pitted against Mozambique’s Uniao Desportiva do Songo in the preliminary round.
The games were played at the Zimpeto National Stadium, as Inyoka Eluhlazane could not host their Mozambican counterparts in the country due to the ban of both the Somhlolo National Stadium and the Mavuso
Sports Centre by the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) and CAF.
The ban was imposed in 2019 as both the venues were deemed unfit to host Category ‘A’ games under the banners of the two football organisations. The Ernest Mavuso-led side was eliminated by Uniao Desportiva do Songo in a 2-1 aggregate score.
Inyoka Eluhlazane Chief Executive Officer (PRO) Mandla Sibiya when asked if the team would play in the inter-club games, disclosed that he was not sure if they would participate in the continental matches.
“I doubt as it is very expensive yet the league prize money is not enough. We spent close to E500 000 in just one game and imagine if we went as far as the group stages,” Sibiya said.
This means that the Correctional Services outfit spent over E1 million in the two matches they played in the 2023/24 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
STADIUM
He said another factor was the issue of the country not having a stadium, which meets the standards set by FIFA and CAF. “The issue of the stadium is a thorn in the flesh for us,” he briefly said.
He further revealed that they intentionally lost in the preliminary round to the Mozambican side due to the high costs of playing in Africa. “On a serious note, we intentionally lost the game,” he said.
Green Mamba are currently on the summit of the log with 16 points in seven outings, they are, however, tied with Madlenya, who are occupying the second spot.
The champions of the 2023/24 MTN Premier League will get a ticket to represent the country in the CAF Champions League, but the current log leaders doubt making their fourth appearance.
Meanwhile, Mbabane Swallows on the other hand, once reached the group stages of both the Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup, where they pocketed close to E8 million.