Damien, ‘Sluga’ for CANA Champs
MBABANE – Swimmer, Damien De Sousa will be among the youngest swimmers when he competes in the CANA Africa Championships.
CANA is the African Swimming Confederation. De Sousa, who is 15 years old, will be accompanied by Swimming Coach Meluleki ‘Sluga’ Simelane to the games to be held in Tunis, Tunisia from August 20- 25. Eswatini Swimming Association (ESA) President Herman Jele announced the team yesterday. According to a letter directed to clubs, coaches and other stakeholders, financial constraints prompted the country to send only one athlete and coach to the event.
“We are pleased to announce that ESA has selected a team of one athlete and official to represent the country in the CANA Africa Champs in Tunis. The decision to send one athlete and one official came down to costs and funding available. However, ESA executive committed in attending the championships this year for the first time in many years,” reads the correspondence letter.
Congratulated
ESA then congratulated the athlete and the coach for being selected and wished them the best while in Tunis. Meanwhile, Coach Meluleki ‘Sluga’ Simelane said this was a better opportunity for him as a coach to grow and he appreciated the chance that was given to him to travel with the national team. He said he was taking Damien to the games to compete other than participating. “I trust in the athlete as he can swim. He is one of the talented in the country. I trust in him and myself. Thanks to senior national team Coach Welcome Nhlabatsi for making me understand the sport,” he said.
Simelane said Nhlabatsi shared some advice with him as he would be debuting as an international coach leading a national team. “I’m looking forward to making the country proud,” he said.
Swimming has been one of the dominant sports recently representing the country internationally.
Among those are the duo of Simanga Dlamini and Hayley Hoy are part of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games set for July 28 to August 8 while they are fresh from the FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, last month.