El-Meriekh FC Juba - Courtesy

El-Meriekh FC Juba has raised fears of missing their second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup due to financial challenges, despite winning their first game.

The club’s Secretary-General Kamal Awad Farjallha says the team needs at least $22,000 to pay for expenses including stadium fees.

Kamal says the amount includes $8,500 for referees’ ticket and their accommodation in Ethiopia and $6,500 for stadium renting fees.

The other $8,000 is for team accommodations and other expenses.

But the club official says the most urgent issue now is paying the referees’ air ticket, their accommodations, and stadium fees.

Speaking to Eye Radio yesterday, Kamal says he has been left with no choice but to knock on every door to support the club after doing the same with the government and stakeholders.

“Because we don’t have a stadium right now, we must rent a stadium, the renting fee for the stadium including the match expenses and training of the two teams is 6500 USD,” said Awad.

“The second challenge is you as the host team need to bring the referees from their country, so the four referees to bring them from their country to Addis Ababa is about 6,000 USD,” he said.

“The cost of their accommodation in the hotel is about 1500 to 2000 USD, so these are the challenges facing the team. If we failed to rent the stadium we will not be able to play the game and we will be considered as a loser.”

“If they failed to bring the referees it also will be considered as a loser and the result will be given to the opponent according to CAF rules.”

“These are the challenge El-Merrikh is facing in Addis Ababa, although the team have travelled to Addis and won the first leg.”

El-Merreikh FC won their first leg against Haidoub FC of Sudan 1:0 last Saturday, August 19.

The two teams are expected to face each other next Saturday in the second leg.