THE TRAVELLING
MSiteki Tennis Club will be sending their high performing junior players to compete in South Africa next month.
The tournament will be played in October in Pretoria. In the list of the travelling squad is Under-10 champion Joshan Eziegbo (7); nine-year-old Bulelani Khumalo; Bantubonke Maseko, who is 11; and 13-year-old Khayelihle Ndzimandze.
Only two years after the establishment of the club, Coach Njabulo Mbhamali, through the help of the Eswatini Tennis Association (ETA), have embraced tennis development in the Lubombo Region, making Siteki one of the best tennis clubs in terms of performance, as evidenced in local tournaments.
Mbhamali said the players followed a strict weekly training schedule and played inter-club tournaments with their neighbours in Mhlume Tennis Club led by Coach Gabi Mkhabela.
“This will not be the first time competing outside the country as we have also participated in Mozambique and South Africa.
‘‘For a new club, it’s important that they get exposed to different opponents with more experience, so that they can improve their competitive level instead of playing against one and the same players here at home.
‘‘The team will be travelling on October 7 and return two days later,” Mbhamali said.
He further said their preparations had been ongoing every week.
“We usually take them to other clubs such as Mhlume to make them get more practice and
TEAM MEMBERS ARE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Joshan Eziegbo Bulelani Khumalo Bantubonke Maseko Khayelihle Ndzimandze (7) (9) (11) (13)
games for their preparation,” he said.
He also highlighted that 90 per cent of the about 100 players he attended to on a weekly basis had their first tennis experience when the club was formed two years ago.
THE MBABANE PARKRUN
183 EDITION RESULTS: Sibusiso Shabangu 17:31 Mfanukhona Mhlanga 18:04 Ndumiso Mkhombe 19:25 Unknown
Unknown
Nkosikhona Nxumalo
Roy Chirwa
Bandile Mkhonta
Sizwe Gama
Sinenhlanhla Mnisi
Phiwokuhle Bulunga
Unknown
Nongcebo Mathabela
Fezile Ndlovu
Sisekelo Magagula
Pacific Ishimwe
Calisile Mthethwa
Lean Drinkwater
Nick Marwa
Majaji Dlamini
Sibusiso Nhlabatsi
Skeel Simelane
Sicelo Dlamini
Mbhekwa Matsebula
Jabulani Shabangu
Chris Morgan
Gohe Gebremariam
Siyamthanda Dlamini
Dotty Dlamini
Thobekile Dlamini
Brandon Drinkwater
Zandisile Howe
Kidus Workalemahu
Bill Davis
Kirstie Van Rensburg
Endale Tilahun
Isaac Abramowitz
Unknown
Unknown
Jabulani Nkonyane
Unknown
Philile Dlamini
Unknown
Johannes Wessels
Zandile Shongwe
Sinqobile Simelane
Evan Nurcombe-Thorne
Shauneen Nurcombe-Thorne Thembisile Mhlanga
Khujo Manana
Sabusiswa Manana
Unknown
Chimwemwe Chirwa
Unknown
Unknown
Betty Hertslet
Tiamike Chirwa
Judi Davis
Unknown
Bongani Manana
Unknown
Karen Cooper
Nqobile Simelane
Joe Mnisi 20:21 21:57 22:04 22:43 22:47 22:57
23:36 26:25 26:27 27:01 27:11 28:23 28:24 30:29 30:29 30:44 32:35 32:41 32:58 33:03 34:04 34:16 34:34 34:34 34:35 35:45 35:54 36:47 37:45 38:38 38:41
39:43 42:16
42:29 45:51 46:14 48:10 48:11 49:37 50:03 50:03
51:37
52:11 52:44 54:20
59:20
1:00:34 1:01:16 1:01:29
Sgreetings! Although results in Maputo, Mozambique, where our boxers were doing battle did not go according to expectations, we believe local pugilists got invaluable experience.
It has been an eventful week. Without sounding like we are blowing our own trumpet, we have never hidden the fact that we are an organisation that moves with the times. We pride ourselves in being a company that always derives its pleasure in developing our nation through quality sport and recreational activities. Just this past Wednesday, we signed a landmark agreement with the S-Team Fitness Academy. The event, which was well attended by the country’s media houses, was held at the Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) offices in Mbabane.
We are proud to announce that the reputable S-Team Fitness Academy has agreed to be our official partners. In essence, this means that the S-Team Fitness Academy is now the official fitness instructor of the ESRC. As experts in the fitness field, they will take charge of our aerobics sessions, not only during our Shukuma activations but also during any other similar programme under any of our programmes. The latest definitely means that our mass participation flagship programme, Shukuma Eswatini, which in recent times has revolved to become a premium platform for public engagement, will no longer be the same again. Of course we are moving with the times. We are so grateful to the S-Team Fitness Academy for coming on board and joining the winning team. We guess it’s true that a big brand can only attract another big brand, hence the marriage between the two entities. We have faith that this relationship will grow from strength to strength and will be prosperous.
Having said that, it is perhaps imperative to extend a warm invitation to other institutions including the corporate and private sectors to come on board and join the winning team. Our hands are always open to welcome new partners. We are offering companies and organisations a rare opportunity to propagate their respective missions to a larger audience. Our programmes never fail to attract scores of people at one time. This is who we are. It’s what we do.
One had to be at Zombodze Emuva to believe that it was really happening.
Scores of fun lovers and sports fanatics came in droves to participate in the Shukuma programme, which was staged at the Zombodze Emuva Inkhundla yesterday. As always, Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga led by example by leading from the front. On a sunny and very hot day, the people of Zombodze Emuva and surrounding areas came out to play in numbers. It was an awesome day and even though we had to go to press, while the programme was ongoing, there could be no denying the fact that it was an enjoyable outing for all. Our Shukuma becomes the perfect family day outing, as we cater for all ages. Yes, our programme accommodates both the young and the old. We were so thrilled, for instance, to note that more women participated in yesterday’s programme. That is what we want to see happening. We encourage the participation of some of our marginalised groups in our society. We want to ensure equal opportunities for all. Our national sports associations should also pat themselves on the back for attending in numbers. We also appreciate the efforts of our corporate and social partners, who also came in numbers. Diabetes Eswatini enlightened the Shukuma participants on the dangers of diabetes; Breast and Cervical Cancer network also taught a number of topics. We were actually pleased to note that a number of our associations made it.
Until next week, sports for all, sports for life!