Thrills in SBS men’s netball finals
LOBAMBA - Sweat flying, heavy grunting and bodies colliding was the order of the day during the Swaziland Building Society (SBS) Netball Champ of Champs tournament at the OlympAfrica Centre at Lobamba.
Such action was witnessed during the final of the men’s game between His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) and Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) teams this past Saturday. HMCS won 41-37 points.
The two male teams were not just an exception assembled for exhibition purposes, but were the remaining competitors of a tournament comprised of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, Vixens from Matsapha and Phoenix from Manzini.
Eswatini Netball Association (ENA) Vice President Mduduzi Nhlabatsi said there were other regional teams that dropped out during the season-long tournament.Confided
Nhlabatsi confided that there were not many aware that there was a male netball tournament in Eswatini.
Relating how the male games started, Nhlabatsi said: “While we were in college our lecturers encouraged us to take part in the sport. Most of us did not know much about it in the beginning. It is now at an advanced stage, as our teams participate and perform well in international competitions.”
Speaking during the prize award ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA), Maxwell Jele, thanked SBS for the support it rendered to netball.
Appreciated
He appreciated the talent that was displayed by the netballers.
“I encourage all the players to develop their game to the highest level, especially because as EOCGA we are looking forward to entering at least one team to the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. We will also work alongside SBS and we expect that a lot of good things will come out of this partnership. As it is, the Minister of Finance has already announced an increase of funding for sports in the latest budget speech,” said Jele.
SBS Manager Marketing Veli Dlamini thanked the ENA for a well organised tournament.
“This year the tournament coincides with the Society’s 60th birthday and as such we regard it as part of our Diamond Jubilee celebration,” he said.
Dlamini further mentioned all SBS branches had products that were suitable for everyone.
“In order to make banking as seamless and convenient as possible for you, we have a debit card and virtual wallet known as the epocket, which allows customers to send, request, withdraw money and purchase prepaid services such as electricity and water. We also have the mobile app,” he said.
Available
In the past months, the society has been engaged in an intensive customer-centric programme to make its services and products available closer to as many people as possible. Two new branches were established at the Gables Shopping Centre in Ezulwini and Buhleni Plaza in northern Hhohho.
In addition, a micro-branch was recently set up at KaShali in Ngwane Park, Manzini.