Thank you Eswatini
Gday dear reader. What a competition!
Eswatini has all the rights to be proud after the successful implementation of the TOTALEnergies U20 AFCON Qualifiers for the COSAFA Region. As a post-mortem for this competition, one must highlight that all the stakeholders that were hosted by the country have signalled a thumbs-up in as far as the realisation of this competition is concerned. In actual fact, this edition is being described as the best COSAFA U20 competition of all time and credit goes to all the stakeholders who played vital roles in as far as the competition’s implementation is concerned. Of utmost significance, the country was well marketed.
The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini, through the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries Bulunga, reacted positively when highlighting that this competition had many benefits which includes the positive transformation brought about by the competition, through the skills and inspiration that have been amassed by football personnel that will enhance local football development, especially in competitions management and drives for a better performance in the future. With the country and the globe still recovering from the adverse effects of COVID-19, these benefits clearly demonstrate the power of football in as far as the economic development of any country is concerned.
Even though the local national team couldn’t make it to the finals, it is very much encouraging, more especially to the players who the government and the public at large, acknowledges the national team’s efforts. This is a huge investment to these talent as these players are the country’s asset whom we look forward to in witnessing them representing the country in the future, more especially in the senior national team level.
The COSAFA President Autur De Almeida E Silva extended his thanks to the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) and her partners for the successful realisation of this competition. These words indicate how much COSAFA acknowledges the country for the successful implementation of this competition, which also produced the two countries that will represent the COSAFA region in the TOTALEnergies AFCON U20 Finals to be played next year in Egypt.
As for the EFA through the office of the President Peter Simelane, the success of this competition was based on the excellent teamwork by all stakeholders. This competition was not about the football matches only, but also the legacies that have been borne that will drive the governance, administration and the development of the game of football locally and transnationally. Indeed, football is a team sport, thus the significance of teamwork as football and the country at large has won through the successful realisation of this competition.
Once again, a special thanks to government, Inyatsi Construction, Eswatini Mobile, Nedbank, Southern Star, football family, fans, media and the Eswatini populace at large for the support towards the realisation of this historic competition. Bravo Eswatini.
Till next week, football for all and safe life for all.