EFA GETS E24.7M COVID-19 FUNDING

Sports Editor

MBABANE – After what seemed like an eternity, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has finally approved a sum of US$1.5 billion (about E24 billion) for the COVID-19 pandemic Relief Plan programme.

Each association in the 211 members of FIFA will receive US$ 1 million (about E16.5 million) to protect and restart football and an additional US$500 000 (about E8.2 million) specifically for women’s football during the third phase.
According to the FIFA website, a virtual meeting of the association’s general secretaries was held on Tuesday where the FIFA Council approved the funding.

Reached

“FIFA’s groundbreaking COVID-19 Relief Plan reached a major milestone as the Bureau of the FIFA council approved the plan’s regulations. Under the terms of the COVID-19 Relief Plan, US$1.5 billion is being made available to support all 211 FIFA member associations and the six confederations to assist in the alleviation of the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” part of the report released yesterday reads.

The report further states that the plan was originally drawn up by the FIFA administration in close co-operation with the confederations and subsequently approved by the FIFA Council on June 25, 2020.

Strict

“The regulations establish strict compliance and audit requirements, as well as clear loan repayment conditions under the supervision of a steering committee,” part of the report reads.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was elated by the latest news.
“This relief plan is a great example of football’s solidarity and commitment in such unprecedented times.

“I would like to thank my colleagues of the Bureau of the Council for approving the decision to move forward with such an important initiative for the benefit of all member associations and confederations,” the game’s number one citizen said.
In the first phase of the plan, the maximum amount of FIFA Forward operational cost entitlements to member associations was released.

For the second phase, member associations have now been given the ability to transform remaining FIFA Forward development project grants into COVID-19 operational relief funds – with a minimum of 50 per cent of the released funds to be allocated to women’s football.
Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngometulu confirmed last night that a sum of US$1.5 million will be made available by FIFA but still it has strict regulations attached to it before being approved.

Templates

“We held the meeting via virtual and then now we await the regulations and the templates they will send which we have to adhere to when we apply for the funding. Approval will take about 14 days once you have applied and have met all the requirements,” Mngometulu said.

He said the money would be accessed between now and January 2021. “There is US$500 000 for women’s football, US$1 million which is for COVID-19 which also covers national teams, medical areas and the resumption of football because there will be a need to have qualified personnel on medical and administration to ensure the safety of everyone,” Mngometulu added.

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