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MBABANE – Without government support there is little that sports can achieve in the country.

Not enough is the financial budget for sports in Eswatini but little counts than nothing altogether. At least seven sports associations including top achievers are currently as good as non-existent in the books of government. Due to their current status, they cannot get any funding from government who aides sports through the Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) which is in liaison with the Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Ministry.

As reported over the weekend by our sister publication, the Times Sunday sports section, the seven associations are Eswatini Golf Union (EGU), Angling, Shooting, -udo, Hockey, .arate Federation and Dance. The associations were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic when the regulations prohibiting contact sports struck the country on April, 2020 and halted all sports.

Government-fundable

This has left the country with 23 recognised and government-fundable sports associations.

“Yes it’s true. We are finalising a few loose ends,” responded EGU President Albert Mhlanga when questioned about their status, especially because golf was one rich sport and was producing a lot of talent from its development.

Eswatini -udo Secretary General Tertius Esterhuysen affirmed that they were hugely affected by COVID-19 with dojos (clubs) failing to return two years later since their sport was one of the banned until early this year when the Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini eased the COVID-19 restrictions, allowing all sport to resume.

He said they would soon be back under the ESRC with full recognition as they were almost ready and will be completing the process this week.