INTERNATIONALS SPICE UP EVENT

MANZINI – The Athletics Eswatini (AE) Track and Field National Championships is an event where champions are crowned.

The cream of the crop in athletics went home smiling with gold medals. The 2022 edition of the championships were held on Saturday at Mavuso Sports Centre. The event that attracted athletes from Mozambique and Lesotho was almost spoiled by rain, but the athletes defied all odds and still competed. We look at the things noticed and learnt during the event.

Poor drainage on track
It was a sorry site as coaches and officials had to quit their scoops of work and try to clear the water from the track at the Mavuso Sports Centre during the championships. The drainage system is damaged and the water becomes stagnant. This all happened in front of the Minister of Sports Culture and Youth Affairs Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga who was part of the guest. It did not paint a good picture of the country to the visitors from Mozambique and Lesotho and it also dropped the standard of competitions. The issue can be fixed.

Time management flop in Champs
It was disappointing to see sponsors leave the arena before  the event finished during the Athletics Eswatini (AE) 2022 Track and Field National Championships. The event was billed to start at 9am and end at 4:10pm, but it dragged way after 6pm. AE has something to learn as far as time is concerned as some parents even left before the event ended. Plenty of time was exhausted for the social runs especially the 4X100m as it took a long time to organise.

Championships well supported  
The Athletics Eswatini (AE) 2022 Track and Field National Championships were well attended, as the event attracted sports people from a majority of the sporting codes. Present included Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga, Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) Army Commander Mashikilisana Fakudze, Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) President Adam Bomber Mthethwa, Eswatini Football Association, Under Secretary (US) Lomvula Hlophe, Swimming President Herman Jele, Boxing President Webster Lukhele, Volleyball President Mpendulo Dlamini and AE President Zakhele Dlamini. Others were Eswatini Football Association (EFA) CEO Frederick Mngomezulu, Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) CEO Kenneth Makhanya, ESRIC Zama Tsabedze and Swimming Coach Mlungisi ‘Sluga’ Simelane. Athletes who came to support their colleagues include Royal Leopard Captain Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini, and boxers Thabiso Dlamini and Zweli Dlamini.

More field events competition
The Athletics Eswatini (AE) and the clubs need to work on the field events competition. It was disappointing to see the field event not competitive as compared to the track events. Commonwealth Games bound athletes Erikah Seyama had no challenge in the high jump, and only three women athletes competed in the shot put and discus. There is room for improvement in some of the event including the javelin, shot put, discus, triple, long and high jump. Thumbs up in introducing events including the hurdles . 

Internationals spice up event
The presence of athletes from Mozambique and Lesotho gave competitions to the championships. Well done to the locals as they dominated the visitors and they gave tough competitions. Hail goes to Bongiwe Mahlalela who was in a competitive event but she defended her title in the 100m and 200m. Sibusiso ‘Swazi Bolt’ Matsenjwa cruised to victories with ease in both the 100m and the 200m; he had been the champion of these events for the past 12 years. Other senior athletes who gave it all were Mcebo Mkhaliphi, Banele Dlamini, Menzokuhle Msibi, Andile Lusenga and Bakhona Sibandze among others.

UEDF most colourful
The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) Athletics Club was well dressed for the event with their athletes in one colour. It was good to see the club President who is the UEDF Army commander Mashikilisana Fakudze present to support the athletes. UEDF Club has been dominant on road races but they had since taken the track events by storm.

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