SOCCER - THE National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS) will spend E65 000 to host Malawi in an international friendly game this weekend, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngomezulu announced yesterday.
This would be the first international friendly the squad would play in preparation for the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers set to start in February. It will also be Sihlangu’s new coach Swiss-born Savoy Raoul’s first assignment.
Mngomezulu said the money would cater for accommodation, food, transportation for the visitors to and from training sessions and other things they will need from their day of arrival.
He explained though that part of the money would come from government, who has made a commitment to help them financially during the preparation period.
However, he could not give the exact percentage of the money they would receive from government but revealed that it (government) had agreed to commit itself until their financial year, ending March next year.
“We are nursing hopes that even after the financial year ends, they (government) will continue supporting us and that they revisit the agreement. So far, they have promised to help during the qualifiers games preparations,” explained Mngomezulu.
Malawi will jet into the country on Thursday and would be booked at the Tum’s George Hotel, Manzini while the friendly game would be played at the Trade Fair ground on Sunday. Kick off is 3:30pm. Mngomezulu said they (Malawi) would arrive in different intervals but through the Matsapha International Airport.
He explained that the reason they will not come all at once is that they are not together so they have arranged that they meet in the country on Thursday. Some of the players are based in Europe while others are in South Africa.
“We have since asked that they furnish us with the times they would arrive at so that we can be able to meet them at the airport.
What I can emphasise on is that they will all be in the country Thursday as per FIFA rules that command that they be in the country 48 hours before the game.
"They will have their first training session in the afternoon at the Police College sports ground for the two days (Thursday and Friday) then on Saturday they will train at the Trade Fair ground to feel the turf,” he said.
Mngomezulu explained that this would not be the only international friendly Sihlangu will be engaged in as they wanted to have at least two games before the qualifiers.
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