MBABANE – Arrows flew and nerves were tested as the country’s finest young darters battled for supremacy at the ESRIC Schools Darts Championships.
Charles Wesley and Ngwane Park emerged, as the dominant forces at the Eswatini Royal Insurance Corporation (ESRIC) Eswatini National Darts Association (ENDA) Schools Darts Championships finals held at the Mavuso Sports Centre last Friday, finishing level at the summit of the team standings with 109 points each. The awarding ceremony is yet to be officially held.
The two schools matched each other throw-for-throw across the various age categories, producing a captivating battle for honours that ultimately ended with neither side able to separate itself from the other.
The championships showcased the growing depth of darts talent in schools across the country, with learners displaying remarkable accuracy and composure under pressure. While Charles Wesley and Ngwane Park shared top honours, Mhlatane (A) ensured the race for the podium remained competitive after securing third place with an impressive 79 points. Ngwane Park’s success was underpinned by several standout individual performances. Senzelwe claimed the Under-15 Girls singles title, while Phinda emerged victorious in the Boys Under-18. These achievements proved crucial in helping the school amass enough points to finish as joint champions.
Swazi National High School also celebrated victories in the Under-18 Girls singles through Phawulethu and Awande in the Boys Under-15.
Charles Wesley also demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the tournament. The school collected valuable points in both singles and doubles events, ensuring it remained neck-and-neck with Ngwane Park until the final tally. Its presence across numerous medal positions reflected the strength and depth of its darts development structures.
Mhlatane (A) completed the top three after producing a string of strong performances across the competition. Their third-place finish confirmed their status as one of the country’s emerging darts powerhouses and a school capable of challenging for top honours in future editions.
ENDA Secretary General Thandeka Mkhonto lauded the performance.
“Looking at the tie of points, the competition was fierce. This shows that the future of darts in Eswatini is certain,” Mkhonto said.
Pupils all smiles at Mavuso Sports Centre last week Friday. (Pic: Darts Eswatini)