EZULWINI – His Majesty King Mswati III has expressed confidence that Eswatini’s national football team will one day qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and ultimately return home with the continental trophy.
This he said as he welcomed delegates attending the OACPS-EU Parliamentary Meeting during a dinner he hosted at the Ezulwini Palazzo.
Addressing delegates from Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific and the European Union, the King used part of his remarks to speak passionately about sport, culture and the ambitions of the country’s football development programme.
He acknowledged that Eswatini had not yet qualified for either the FIFA World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations, but said the country was actively investing in the development of local teams and young talent.
Notably, the King thanked some of the delegates who attended the Ingwenyama Cup Final held at the Somhlolo National Stadium on Sunday.
“In football, we are still training our local teams because we have not yet qualified for the World Cup,” King Mswati III said. “This is one of the issues and a big concern. As emaSwati, not only the World Cup, but also AFCON, we have not yet qualified.”
The King explained that the matches and sporting activities currently taking place in the country should not simply be viewed as competitions, but as opportunities to sharpen the skills of local players.
“Our aim is to train our teams so that one day we would like to see the flag of the Eswatini team flying high, not only participating in AFCON, but also coming back with the trophy,” he said.
He added that he believed the dream was within reach because of the talent and enthusiasm shown by the country’s young footballers.
“I guarantee it will not be very far. I can see the capabilities, the talent of the young people from the Eswatini team, the enthusiasm, the energy and so on,” the King said.
During his address, he encouraged visitors to take time to travel across the country and experience its people, culture and hospitality.
“Visit every corner of this country, see as many emaSwati people as you can,” he said. “You will appreciate finding a nation which is very welcoming, very humble, down to earth and, above all, very talented.”
The King said he had already received positive feedback from delegates who attended cultural and sporting activities hosted in the country, including football matches and traditional celebrations.
“The people were with us yesterday watching the match, also the culture and the match, where we were showing our culture together with our sport,” he said.
He noted that sport and culture remain deeply important to the people of Eswatini and said visitors had experienced both during their stay.
“As emaSwati people, we are people who love culture and who also love sport,” he said.
The King said he had observed the excitement and enjoyment among delegates who attended the cultural celebrations and football events.
“That is the strength of emaSwati. They have a huge heart,” he said. “At least you have experienced emaSwati hospitality.”
The King explained that the evening’s gathering was intended to personally welcome member states from the OACPS as well as delegates from the European Union.
“Tonight is to welcome you personally as member states from the OACPS as well as from the EU membership,” he said.
During the address, King Mswati III also spoke about the financial and institutional support being provided to the OACPS Secretariat based in Brussels, Belgium.
He acknowledged the contribution of European Union member states in supporting the organisation during difficult periods and thanked them for their assistance.
“We are grateful that the EU also supports our secretariat, which is based in Belgium,” he said.
The King revealed that African, Caribbean and Pacific member states had recently resolved to increase their own contribution towards supporting the organisation’s operations.
“After we were informed, most of the Heads of State within Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean took the decision that this cannot continue any longer,” he said. “It is our responsibility as OACPS member states to really look after our secretariat.”
He noted that although member states had not previously contributed sufficiently, the organisation had remained aware that EU member states had continued offering support.
“To that, we want to say thank you to the EU for their support,” the King said.
However, he stressed that OACPS member states had now committed themselves to sharing the responsibility.
“Africa, Pacific and Caribbean took the decision that let us also contribute, and we were able to raise at least 14 million euros, which is going to support our secretariat,” he announced.
Describing the development as positive news for the organisation, King Mswati III expressed hope that discussions taking place during the parliamentary meeting at Ezulwini Palazzo would produce meaningful outcomes and practical programmes.
“We hope that from here, in this Palazzo Hall, the discussions will be very fruitful,” he said. “They will come up with very interesting programmes for us to continue to implement together.”
The King urged delegates to continue supporting one another through cooperation, exchange of ideas and mutual understanding across regions.
“Let us support each other where we can as brothers and sisters. Let us share ideas and experiences together because our coming together is really to understand each other,” he said.
He emphasised that despite differences in geography and background, delegates from Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific shared a common purpose.
“Regardless of where we come from, we may be coming from Europe, the Pacific, the Caribbean or Africa, but at last we are all together,” he said. “Togetherness is the answer.”
King Mswati III concluded by expressing hope that delegates would leave Eswatini with positive memories of their stay and wished the conference successful deliberations.
“We hope that when you are here in Eswatini, when you go back to your different respective countries, you take with you many happy memories of your stay,” he said.
His Majesty King Mswati III posing with members of the OACPS-EU delegates, Minister of Foreign Affairs and international Cooperation Pholile Shakantu, Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini and Speaker of the House of Assembly Jabulani Mabuza ahead of the dinner he hosted for them at Ezulwini Plazzo ICC yesterday.