‘SWAZI BOLT’ EMPOWERS YOUNG ATHLETES

MANZINI – “I was motivating these young athletes.”

These were comments made by Eswatini number one sprinter Sibusiso ‘Swazi Bolt’ Matsenjwa after he came second in the final men’s 200m last Sunday in the National Championships Qualifiers at Mavuso Sports Centre. The Athletics Eswatini (AE) hosted the track and field event where over 200 athletes including the Olympic 2021 semifinalists, ‘Swazi Bolt’ participated. Faster than ‘Swazi Bolt’ on the day was Manzini Athletics Club’s Ayanda Malaza who crossed the finish line in 21.90 seconds. ‘Swazi Bolt’ finished on 22.90 seconds, while Mpendulo Mabuza completed the top three with 23.20 seconds. Worth noting is that ‘Swazi Bolt’ began the race like the rocket he is, opening an estimated three-metre distance between him and the rest of the competitors. Just midway through, he started slowing down and allowed the young and upcoming sprinters to feel the competition with the champion beating him to the finish line. At the time they reached the winning point, a near two-metre gap was the difference.

“These are the qualifiers, so one can only maintain the position just to qualify. I want to improve my time during the Commonwealth Games, which I have already qualified for. I had to motivate the young athletes by letting them enjoy what it feels to outrun me,” Matsenjwa said. He said he was also happy to come back home to compete in the qualifiers. “As much as I have a busy schedule, I had to come here to partake in this race so I qualify for the National Championships. It is also good to mingle with these young athletes and motivate them as they look up to me. My next race will be in Botswana next week,” he said. He said he was also using these races to prepare for the Commonwealth Games which are set for July 28 to August 2022 in Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, the winner Malaza, said he was happy to have outrun Matsenjwa.

“This means so much to me. It is humbling for him to let me beat him. He is building that confidence in me which I need to be a great runner like him,” Malaza said. ‘Swazi Bolt’ did not end there as even in the 100m race he did same. This time, it was Menziwokuhle Msibi who shot past him to clock 10:50 seconds to win the final men’s 100m. Matsenjwa came second with a time of 10.80 seconds. In the ladies category, Royal Eswatini Police Service’s (REPS) Bongiwe Mahlalela shone brighter as she clocked a time of 24.20 seconds in the women’s 200m finals. She was closely followed by University of Eswatini (UNESWA) athlete Phelelisiwe Manana on 26.90 seconds.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: