WE’RE GOING TO COMPETE – CRICKET CAPT

MBABANE – The country’s hopes are on the women’s national cricket team which headed to Botswana yesterday.

The cricket team is expected to represent Eswatini in the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 Senior Women’s Cricket World Cup qualifiers. Deputy Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Nanikie Mnisi bade farewell to the women’s cricket national team yesterday at the Ministry’s offices. Mnisi said they were proud of the team since they were still new in the sport. “We understand that you are going to compete against the finest, but we are hoping for the best results. You are young and beautiful so we want you to go there as a team and represent the country well. Please be safe from the current COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mnisi. The deputy PS said she was aware that the team was travelling without a team doctor, but she believed that the players would be safe. “I would like to thank the council for making the team look beautiful, we are happy to see young people making it in the association’s board and encouraging the spirit,” she said. Mnisi further said the ministry would like to see every sporting activity in the country involving the youth because they brought more energy to sports.

Happy

Meanwhile, Eswatini Sports and Recreation Council (ESRC) Director Darius Dlomo said he was happy with cricket which was one of the best complying sports. “Eswatini Cricket Association (ECA) is one of our associations we are happy with, they are doing everything right which makes it easy for us to work with them.” Dlomo further stated that he could see that the youngsters were looking great in their outfits and was sure that they would not disappoint the country in Botswana. The Director said he was happy that cricket was introduced by the Asian community, but was now embraced by emaSwati. “Yes you are still new in the sport, but we have hope that you will do better in representing the country,” he said. ECA President Ruben ‘Rhoo’ Nxumalo said they were very grateful for the opportunity, adding that the team was going there to compete not to add numbers. “The team was in camp for the past few weeks and they have prepared for this journey very well. They will travel with our Operations Officer Mandla Dlamini, together with the coach Sibongiseni Dlamini and board member, who is also a player, Ntombizodwa Mkhatshwa,” Nxumalo said.

Meanwhile, the Director of Sports in the ministry, Lucky Sihlongonyane, said as a ministry they were happy to see these youngsters looking good before leaving the country. “We are very grateful to hear that cricket is complying very well. it is a good thing and we encourage every sporting code to follow cricket. We are happy to see the kids dressed this way, this will show they are coming from a well-organised country,” said Sihlongonyane.

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