Sports

MBABANE, ESWATINI – The Kingdom of Eswatini is in the running for two accolades at the 2026 African Union Sport Council (AUSC) Region V Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA).

On Monday, May 11, Region V announced the three finalists across nine categories for this year’s edition. Eswatini has two of its junior athletes shortlisted for the ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in Luanda, Angola, on May 23.

The kingdom’s reigning Junior Male and Female Sports personalities of the Year, Banele Matse from darts and Siphiwokuhle Ndlela from taekwando, carry the nation's hopes of being named the region’s finest sports personalities in just 10 days.

Eswatini has been a prominent fixture in these categories since the awards were revived post-COVID-19. In 2023, the country tasted glory when taekwondo star Sihlelelwe Matsebula was named Junior Male Sportsperson of the Year. The following year, swimming sensation Hayley Hoy clinched the Junior Female title. While the kingdom sent a delegation last year, they returned home empty-handed.

Both Matse and Ndlela qualified for the RASA shortlists by virtue of their success at the national level during the MulaSport National Sports Awards held in March 2026.

The AUSC Region V is comprised of 10 member states. This year’s finalists represent eight of those nations, with no athletes from Lesotho or Mozambique making the final cuts. In a statement, the AUSC Region V noted that the finalists embody excellence, discipline, resilience and a profound impact on regional sport.

Efforts to get an immediate comment from Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) Media Officer Dumisani Ntiwane were unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report, as his mobile phone rang unanswered. However,  ESRC issued a statement earlier today on Facebook congratulating both athletes on their historic nominations.

RASA 2026 finalists;

1. Sportsperson of the Year;

Letsile Tebogo - Botswana

Miracle Chipito – Zambia

Simone Kruger – South Africa 

2. Sportsman of the Year;

Letsile Tebogo - Botswana

Alan Hatherly –South Africa

Filipus Nghitumbwa – Namibia

3. Sportswomen of the Year;

Miracle Chipito – Zambia

Uera Looser- Namibia

Temwa Chawinga – Malawi

4. Junior Male Sportsperson of the Year;

Zanda Botha – Zimbabwe

Ntungamili Raguin – Botswana

Banele Matse – Eswatini

5. Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year;

Rosiana Mongo –Angola

Ruvarashe Makunike – Zimbabwe

Siphiwokuhle Ndlela   - Eswatini

6. Sportsman of the Year with Disability;

Simbashe Mushayi – Zimbabwe

Ananias Shikongo – Namibia

Edwin Masuge – Botswana

7. Sportswoman of the Year with Disability;

Julian Moco – Angola

Simone Kruger – South Africa

Gloria Majaga – Botswana

7. Sports Team of the Year;

Botswana Senior 4X4 Relay Team

South Africa 4x100m Relay Team

Zambia Under-17 Women’s Team National Football Team

8. Coach of the Year;

Kebonyemodisa Mosimanyane – Botswana

Rocco Meiring – South Africa

Piet Benade – Zimbabwe

9. Journalist of the Year;

Lington Nyakwenda – Zimbabwe

Limba Mupetami – Namibia

Bright Kanyama - Malawi

The Kingdom of Eswatini is in the running for two accolades at the 2026 African Union Sport Council (AUSC) Region V Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA).