‘New EOCGA offices to slash admin costs’

MBABANE – The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs hopes that more money will now be directed towards development of athletes following the construction of EOCGA’s new offices.

The Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga, made this assertion during Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) gala dinner held on Saturday. The dinner was held at Happy Valley Hotel to celebrate EOCGA’s 50th anniversary and their new headquarters in Lobamba.

“The structure will significantly reduce administrative costs. It was very costly to rent office space; reducing the funding that should be going directly to athletes development and funding preparations for major sporting events in the international calendar.

“We pray and hope that the savings to be made going forward will be channelled correctly towards our quest for a podium finish in upcoming elite competitions,” the minister highlighted.

The minister also directed government’s warmest appreciation to the

International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Associations of National Olympics for Africa (ANOCA), who jointly and fully financed the new offices project that cost around E2.5 million. He described it as a massive investment that would forever be etched in their hearts, and would go a long way in improving the administration of sport in the country.

Meanwhile, ANOCA said the commissioning of the newly-built headquarters was patent proof of the progress they yearned for. ANOCA Second Vice President Motlohang Moiloa-Ramoqoqo stated that the project was an outcome of the ANOCA programme, which aims to ensure the 54 African NOCs were housed in appropriate modern headquarters. EOCGA is also referred to as the National Olympic Committee.

“The NOCs headquarters construction project will create enabling workspaces for our Olympic family. This is a necessary development if we want to streamline our management and make sport a wealth creation platform for African youths. The NOC headquarters was built and all thanks to the unfailing support of the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity, whose support we acknowledge with deep gratitude,” she said.

Nimrod Hlophe) (Pic: EOCGA President Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa (3rd L) shaking hands with South Africa’s SASCOC President Barry Hendricks (4th L) after the signing of the MoU between the two countries on Saturday. They are flanked by ANOCA Zone VI President Alfred Fokolo (L), EOCGA CEO Maxwell Jele (2nd L) and SASCOC CEO Nozipho Jafta (R).

(Pics: Mengameli Mabuza) The Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga (L) receiving a gift from ANOCA Vice President Motlahang Moiloa-Ramoqoqo during the gala dinner.