‘BOMBER’ OUT OF FOOTBALL

MBABANE – It’s an end of an era.

Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa’s 24-year grip on Eswatini football has been loosened - and by his own volition - after being elected president of the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) yesterday. As per the constitution of the Eswatini Football Association (EFA), Mthethwa has 30 days to relinquish his position as president of the EFA.
He won the EOCGA presidential elections after beating the former President Peter Mgcini Shongwe, hands down. Mthethwa attained 73 per cent (27 votes) of the votes while Shongwe got 27 per cent (10 votes) during the XXIV EOCGA General Assembly elections held virtually for the first time due to the COVID-19 regulations.

EOCGA was previously known as the Swaziland Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (SOCGA). It is the National Olympic Committee representing Eswatini. It was established in 1968 and officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 1972. Mthethwa is the fourth President after the outgoing Shongwe, Zombodze Magagula and the founder David Sibandze. He is expected to hand his resignation within 30 days from yesterday with EFA set for elections in July. Eswatini National Tennis Association (ENTA) President Maxwell Jele is the Vice-President after attaining 68 per cent with former Eswatini Boxing Association (EBA) President Pearl Dlamini, who got 32 per cent. Meanwhile, Pearl was appointed back to the Board as a member to meet the 30 per cent gender representation.  The elected Board only met 28.5 per cent of gender representation and Pearl was then appointed by the members.

Treasurer

Zakhele Zulu is the elected treasurer as he won on 57 per cent over Goodluck Gule. The elected members saw former EOCGA CEO Muriel Hofer bouncing back as a Board member and others are Athletics Eswatini (AE) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Victor ‘Mavikane’ Dlamini, Eswatini National Basketball Association (ENBA) President Nhlanhla Maphanga and former Eswatini Swimming Association (ESA) Secretary Lee-Ann Young. Getting the least votes in the membership was Eswatini Taekwondo Federation (ETF) President Zakhele Dlamini. Mthethwa will be in charge for the next four years and their first challenge on the table is the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games where the country has to send a squad. The games start July 23 to August 8 in Tokyo, Japan. Mthethwa’s victory comes three days after the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga, announced the new Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) Board Chaired by Celucolo ‘Dino’ Dlamini.

Appreciate

Mthethwa said he immensely appreciated the support from the members. He said it showed that they had faith in him. He paid tribute to the founder of the National Olympic committee, Sibandze. “It’s an honour to be elected as EOCGA President. I pay tribute to the outgoing President Peter Shongwe and the past leaders in Zombodze Magagula and David Sibandze. They played a great part in the development of sports in the country and it is now time to move the baton on as this is like a relay,” he said.

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