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NHLANGANO – Montigny has donated E70 000 for eight schools to compete in soccer and netball tournament scheduled for tomorrow at King Sobhuza II Stadium.

Montigny presented the participating schools with playing kits, which included soccer and netball jerseys as well as playing balls.

Community Relations Manager Sihle Mavuso stated that Montigny had been involved in schools programmes for over five years, as they were sponsoring sporting activities in schools around Bhunya. He stated that they felt the need of bringing the programme to Shiselweni, as a region where Montigny was established.

When asked as to which criteria was used to choose the participating schools, he stated that they selected those that were next to their farms as they were still piloting the programme. He said they were going to stretch to other schools next to plantations in coming years and further include primary schools.

Programme

Mavuso further stated that the programme was also looking into repositioning pupils, as they had not been engaging in extra curriculum activities because of COVID-19. “We also trying to create the culture and understanding among stakeholders that the existence of companies like Montigny spoke to the availability of taxes that will be used by government to buy mediation, distribute elderly grants and free education, among other things,” he said.

He said engaging the stakeholder was their opportunity of educating and reminding them why it was important to keep the plantations safe. Mavuso added that there were over 50 000 people who were employed by the different forestry companies and the aforementioned employees had dependants. He said burning of forests meant a lot of people would suffer. The tournament is titled ‘Nhlangano No Fire Challenge 2022’. Mavuso explained that the idea behind the title was addressing the challenge they had with wild fires especially in winter.

Meanwhile, Shiselweni Regional Education Officer Siboniso Gumbi, who was represented by Inspector of School Penelope Khumalo, appreciated the sponsorship.

Gumbi said that they were hoping for a long relationship with the company.

It was said that the tournaments are scheduled to start at 7:30am until 4pm tomorrow. Also, there would be prize monies that would be given to the winners. Further, it was said that referees from the Premier League of Eswatini would be used for the soccer games.

MBABANE – The national team, Sihlangu Coach Dominic Kunene said he was going to sleep a happy man despite crashing out in the quarterfinals of the COSAFA Cup.

Sihlangu lost 10-9 after penalties to Senegal after penalties in Durban yesterday. Kunene whose side finished in the semifinal in last year’s edition said the overall performance for the team was better than last year despite losing in the last eight.

Sihlangu will now play Botswana in the Plate Competition tomorrow at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.

“It was a tough game and we knew it would be. I’m happy with the overall performance. Our team showed character, when playing against the best in Africa and it was an achievement.

Chances

“We created better chances and we were supposed to win it in the 90 minutes. Unfortunately we failed to convert; in football it is like that; you can create a lot of chances but if you failing to convert you lose the game,” he said.

Kunene said his players showed growth and they were unlucky not to win the game as they created chances.

He said he was going to consider