DID YOU KNOW?

MBABANE – The world of sports in Eswatini is full of amazing facts and figures. In this article, we will explore some of the most interesting ones that you might not be aware of. So put on your thinking cap and get ready for some mind-blowing trivia! 1

. Mbabane giants Swallows forward Felix ‘Fela’ Badenhorst is still the current all-time goal scorer of Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) Cup, with nine goals in the competition. He scored his ninth during a 3-1 win for Eswatini against Lesotho at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with the other goals being scored by Khethokuhle Mkhontfo and Fanelo ‘Order’ Mamba in 2021. During the 2019 edition, he equalled the record of former Zimbabwean international Peter Ndlovu and ex- Mozambican international Emmanuel ‘Tico Tico’ Bucuane who have eight goals each. Badenhorst was in superb form in the 2016 COSAFA Cup with five goals as Eswatini finished third. 2

. Russia-based Boxer Thabiso Dlamini was Team Eswatini’s lone gold medallist when Eswatini last hosted the Under-20 Zone VI (now Region V) Youth Games back in 2010. 3 . Lubombo-based outfit Madlenya goalkeeper Dumsani Dlamini is currently the best in the MTN Premier League 2023/24 season. The net-minder has played 12 out of 15 games and conceded only seven. Meanwhile, the green and yellow ensemble are on position five with 24 points as per yesterday’s standings. 4

. Luke Hall forms part of Eswatini greatest of all time swimmers. He competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he came fourth in his heat with the time of 23.48 seconds. In this, he was competing in the 50 metres freestyle event. 5

. Army side Young Buffaloes are the team that have scored most goals on regulation time in the 2023/24 Ingwenyama Cup SMVAF tournament. The forces side have secured 10 goals and conceded only one in two games. Buffaloes are the only Premier League team that have not reached penalties in this tournament. They scored three goals against Ubombo Flyers in the Last 32. The forces giants further netted seven goals in the 7-1 resounding win over Lubombo-based outfit Illovo in the Last 16.