Emvimbeko High Montigny’s ‘Run Against Crime’ champions
LUYENGO – It was just another day in the office for Emvimbeko High School as they seemed to win the first ever Montigny ‘Run Against Crime’ Schools Athletics Competition without breaking a sweat.
The competition was held at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA), Luyengo Campus on Wednesday.
The champions dominated the short distances, but also held their own in the long distances, which enabled them to amass 85 points in the Under-17 Division and 103 points in the Open Division, which featured pupils older than 17. The sports teacher at the school, Zakhele Dlamini, was ecstatic that their preparations paid off.
PREPARATIONS
“This is good to see. Of course, we are aware that all the competitors had very little time to make preparations, but we beat everyone in both scores – preparing well with little time and actually executing our plan on the track,” he said.
The school won enticing E10 000 prize money and a trophy for their hard work.
“As a school based in a rural community, we face serious challenges as some of the children are completely destitute. We will present the prize money to the school administration, but we do not doubt that they will want to use it to benefit some of the children who are struggling to make ends meet,” Tsela said when asked what his school would do with the money.
PERFORMANCE
St. Anne’s and St. John Bosco were tied as runners-up in the U-17 division, but as if to show that their performance was not a fluke, the former still got position two in the Open Division. Ncabaneni High School were placed third, as sprinter Bonginkhosi
Magagula single-handedly clinched the position for them. He got first position in both the 100 and 200 metres Open Division, impressing veteran marathon runner Spike Dlamini, who chairs the competition.
POTENTIAL
“I see great potential in these games, especially given that the teachers had very little time to work with the athletes. I wish we had structures to take care of this talent even beyond their school days,” he said.
Just two competitions into the new feature on the calendar of the Usutu-based schools, the Montigny Run Against Crime
Schools Competition seems to be getting popular among the rank and file.
Hundreds of people, mainly students, came out to watch the competition, graced by Manzini Regional Operations Officer Schoolboy Simelane, who seemed at home as he decorated some of the winners before he left prematurely to attend to pressing matters in the office.
Representing the sponsor, Montigny Community Liaison Officer Sihle Mavuso was impressed with the talent on display despite the short notice. He promised that the competition would return next year - bigger and better.