MP slams Commonwealth Games squad coach
lIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlIIIIIIIIIIIIlll
M– “How do we expect to win in Commonwealth Games when a coach with no track record and boxer is selected?”
This was a question posed by Kukhanyeni Member of Parliament Vincent Sihlongonyane in yesterday’s House of Assembly session with the Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Ministry headed by Minister Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga. Before his submissions, Sihlongonyane declared his passion for sports as he was well aware of issues taking place.
He called for the Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) to ensure that the sports associations affiliated to them had sound frameworks with laid down standards of operation and requirements to certain positions. He claimed that currently, it appeared as though there was no framework to the point that anyone was
Boxers Zweli Dlamini (L) and Thabiso Dlamini (R) with Coach Chicks Lukhele.
appointed or elected into positions they did not qualify for, as well as training standards as there was no vetting of sports administrators or officials.
“I’ll quote one case. These days
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlllllllllllllll Botswana .......... (0)2
Bame Morwalela 40th Mothusi Cooper 88th
Eswatini .......... (0) – A weakened Eswatini national team Sihlangu was yesterday officially booted out of the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup 2022 after losing 2-0 to Botswana in the Plate Tournament semi-finals.
MEswatini Head Coach Dominic Kunene used an unfamiliar starting line-up which was without regulars in three goals scorer and assistant captain Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa and Captain Lindo Mkhonta who were named among the substitutes but did not play.
Bame Morwalela (R) of Botswana competes with Sifiso Matse (C) of Eswatini during the 2022 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup Plate semifinal match at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban, South Africa yesterday. Botswana won 2-0 to set up final with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
we’re preparing for Commonwealth Games and people were selected, but there are cries that some were left out and how so because selection criteria and all that is done by associations.
“Our sports office (ministry) is assessing how things are going but with the framework we’d be helped. There’s a sport that am passionately involved in. Here there’s a coach who has no track record, no boxer but he’s a national team coach going to represent the country in Commonwealth Games yet we expect results,” he said.
The MP expressed his utter surprise at such status quo and wondered how the country expected to win in the games yet coaches with proven track records were left behind. He encouraged the ministry to look at this matter and address it. The ministry will bring written responses to the august House next Monday. Meanwhile, the only boxing coach in the Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022 Team Eswatini is Chicks Lukhele, while Mfana ‘Tyson’ Dlamini from Matsapha Boxing Club had also been travelling with the national team often times.
Jele attracts interest
JOHANNESBURG - Orlando Pirates captain and defender Happy Jele has attracted interest from Royal AM. “The club is going to meet him soon to determine his future. There is already huge interest to sign him. Royal AM are keen and watching his situation at Pirates,” a Kickoff source said. The 35-yearold is the longest serving player in the current Pirates squad having joined the Soweto giants from amateur club Walter Stars in 2006.