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MBABANE – Team Eswatini almost missed out on the Region 5 Youth Games due to lack of funds.
The financial challenges have been cited by the Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) for delaying the release of Team Eswatini squad which was released yesterday. It is almost two weeks before the start of the December 2 to 10 championships to be staged in Lilongwe, Malawi. ESRC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Darius Dlomo said they had requested from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) block to send a small squad which was agreed to. Eswatini will thus be represented by 11 athletes, covering three sporting codes which are swimming, athletics and taekwondo.
“That meant we needed to spring into action to find where we get the funds to send that very small team. And most recently, we have had a series of meetings with our counterparts, EOCGA to be part of our Development Strategic Plan Project for 2022-2026. The outcome of that meeting was this,” said Dlomo.
Contributed
It is understood that Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) has contributed E400 000 towards the Region 5 games. ESRC paid the balance (E350 000). EOCGA CEO Maxwell Jele, when announcing the squad, said the identification of the athletes went through a vigorous process where meeting certain aspects were considered, putting into account the budget at disposal.
“There was a criterion that was eventually established. We considered athletes with medals in the previous games in Maseru in December last year, together with possible medallists at regional competition with the sole purpose that we send the best suited team to represent the country,” Jele said.
Team Eswatini comprises of 11 athletes from three sporting codes. Among the swimmers is swimming sensation Hayley Hoy, who represented the country in the Commonwealth Games early this year.