Zakhele retains AE presidency

MANZINI – Renowned Lawyer and TZD Sports Management Director Zakhele Dlamini was yesterday re-elected unopposed into the Athletics Eswatini (AE) presidency sit.

This was during the Annual General Assembly (AGM) elections, which was held at Khanyisa House in Manzini. The director of TZD Sports and TZD Athletics Club won after his supposed competitor Selby Shongwe withdrew his nomination for the post.

In the vice-president category, the real voting started with outgoing Vice President Harry Malindzisa up against Sipho Vilakati. As clubs representatives cast their votes, the tension was conspicuous among the two candidates. Lawyer Musa Sibandze, the Election Officer, with the help of AE Chief Operations Officer (COO) Thoba Mazibuko, took their time to carefully count the votes.

As Sibandze was about to announce the winner, you could see Vilakati and Malindzisa holding their breath. Excitement and disappointment were what played out after the results were announced in favour of Vilakati. He got nine votes to Malindzisa’s six of the 15 who voted.

WITHDRAWING

The Treasurer position was taken by Bongani Ntshalintshali as he stood unopposed as well following the new Vice President, Vilakati withdrawing from this one. Also in without being challenged was Sanele Manana after Nondumiso Ndzinisa

PREVIOUS AE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

1. Zakhele Dlamini

2. Harry Malindzisa

3. Bongani Ntshalintshali

4. Thoba Mazibuko

5. Nomcebo Simelane

6. Nonhlanhla Mathabela

NEW AE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

1. (a) Zakhele Dlamini

(b) Selby Shongwe

2. (a) Sipho Vilakati

(b)Harry Malindzisa

3. (a) Bongani Ntshalintshali (b) Sipho Vilakati

4. Thoba Mazibuko

5. Nomcebo Simelane

6. (a) Sanele Manana

(b) Nondumiso Ndzinisa was disqualified following that she did not get a letter from her club affirming she was standing for the position of gender and equity.

Speaking after they were elected, President Dlamini said athletics was all about the sport not the office work. “We are here to serve the sport. We also welcome the new members as they join us. We would like to appeal for support and patience from the teams. The sport should be the winner in the end,” he said.

He said those who lost the elections should not be out of the sport, but be supportive of those who won. Meanwhile, the Vice-President, Vilakati, thanked the teams who elected him and promised that he would work harder and in good coordination with all members of the committee. - President - Vice-President - Treasurer

- Chief Operating Officer - Office Administrator - Gender and Equity - President (unopposed)

- Withdrew

- Vice-President (9 votes)

- 6 votes

- Treasurer (unopposed)

- Withdrawn

- Chief Operating Officer (elected officer) - Office Administrator (elected officer) - Gender and Equity (unopposed) - Disqualified

BUHLENI U-13 TOURNEY RESULTS:

PRELIMINARY STAGES

M. Hotspurs 1-1 JB Arsenal S. Stars 1-1 Sivutsa Macocweni 3-1 Community M. Arsenal 2-2 Superstars JB Arsenal 3-1 S. Stars Sivutsa 0-1 M. Hotspurs Community 3-0 M. Arsenal Superstars 0-1 Macocweni

M. Hotspurs 1-1 Sivutsa 1-1 Macocweni 5-0 Community 3-0

SEMI-FINALS

Macocweni 5-6 JB Arsenal 1-3

FINALS

Community 3-1

S. Stars JB Arsenal M. Arsenal Superstars

M. Hotspurs Community

M. Hotspurs

(Pics: EFA) Buhleni Build it Under-13 Player of the Tournament Banele Malindzisa (R) receiving his prize from the store’s MD Khanya Ndlovu. (R pic) Champions Community posing with HRFA Vice-Chairperson Donald Nkonyane (back 4th L) and other officials after the prize presentation.

(Pics: Sanele Jele) L-R: AE Board member Gender and Equity Sanele Manana, Vice-President Sipho Vilakati, President Zakhele Dlamini and Treasurer Bongani Ntshalintshali after the elections yesterday.

Harry Malindzisa reacts after the results were announced that he lost the vice-president seat.