BONGIWE, ‘SWAZI BOLT’ CRUISE TO FINALS
MBABANE – Eswatini’s fastest sprinters Bongiwe Mahlalela and Sibusiso ‘Swazi Bolt’ Matsenjwa have cruised to the finals of the African Games.
The 13th edition of the continental multi-sport showpiece is staged in Accra, Ghana.
The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) runners are in the finals of the 200m in their respective categories, after punching above their weight yesterday evening.
The finals are expected later today. Mahlalela was the first to revive the hopes of a medal as per government’s call when they departed. She clocked 23.95 seconds to secure the third position in her race, which was dominated by southern African countries.
Congo’s Natacha Ngoye conquered the race, clocking 23.25 seconds, and South Africa’s Shirley Nekhubui secured the second spot with 23.85 seconds.
Hunger
Building up to this feat, the tracks queen showed some hunger for a medal yesterday morning. She did so by setting a new personal best of 23.74 seconds in the 200m heats, exceeding her previous personal best of 24.09 seconds.
On the other hand, ‘Swazi Bolt’ also bolted into the finals of the men’s competition. It took him 21.04 seconds to book a slot in the finals.
Ahead of him were Kenya’s Waweru Samuel and Nigeria’s Olunle Akintola.
Meanwhile, the fastest man in the country, cruised to the semi-finals in the morning yesterday. ‘Swazi Bolt’ left his competitors trailing to finish first, clocking 20.80 seconds and qualifying for the semi-finals. Matsenjwa made history in 2021 when he snatched a three-year sponsorship deal from Adidas.
The duo is representing the country in the African Games. Most of the other sporting codes returned home. These sporting codes are karate, swimming, and taekwondo, with taekwondo set to take centre stage today. (Read more on page 50)
JOHANNESBURG - Orlando Pirates said yestersday that former Bafana Bafana Head Coach and Buccaneers Technical Director Stanley ‘Screamer’ Tshabalala was shot during a house break-in at his home on Wednesday.
“Former Bafana Bafana coach Stanley ‘Screamer’Tshabalala was shot following a house break-in at the Tshabalala residence yesterday, just after Midday,” read a statement from Tshabalala family spokesperson Thato Matuka.
“The matter is currently in the hands of the South African Police Service. The Tshabalala family would like to thank the public for their messages of support during this time, and have asked for privacy while Bra Stan is recovering.”
Tshabalala was a founding member of Kaizer Chiefs, who also coached Mamelodi Sundowns.
According to his own website, he was called ‘Screamer’ ‘because of his incessant shouting for the ball’. ‘Screamer’ was also the first Bafana Bafana head coach when South Africa was readmitted into international football in 1992.
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