By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – From the 59 Tinkhundla Centres in the country, 32 are through to the quarter-finals of the Tinkhundla Under-20 Football tournament.
There were 27 eliminated in the first round of the tournament played on Saturday around the country. The 32 teams remaining reached the quarter-finals at regional level, being Lubombo, Hhohho, Shiselweni and Manzini.
The last 32 teams are:
Manzini: Mafutseni, Ntondozi, Kwaluseni, Mangcongco, Mkhweli, Kukhanyeni, Manzini South and LaMagabhi.
Hhohho: Siphocosini, Timphisini, Mhlangatane, Motshane, Lobamba, Pigg’s Peak, Ndzingeni and Hhukwini.
Lubombo: Lomahasha, Gilgal, Sithobela, Lubulini, Matsanjeni North, Lugongolweni, Mhlume and Nkilongo.
Shiselweni: Gege, Shiselweni I, Somntongo, Shiselweni II, Matsanjeni South, Sigwe, Hosea and Nkwene.
The 27 eliminated Tinkhundla Centres received E2 000 while those to crash out in the second round will take home E5 000. The finals of the tournament under Tinkhundla Talent Search are anticipated for August 31 at Somhlolo National Stadium.
The fixture for the next round to be played on Saturday is yet to be released by the Organising Committee.
Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) Business and Marketing Manager Zama Tsabedze who is part of the organising committee said they were happy that the first round of the games and the pre-preliminary went well with few challenges that they went through.
Tsabedze said the main challenge was players bringing in certificate instead of Identity Cards (ID’s) or passport for verification.
Tsabedze who was speaking with Eswatini TV Sports invited Coaches from around the country to watch the game and identify the talent as it was a lot. He said they were very happy with the standard of the games and they were looking forward at the second round fixtures.
He also released the rules and regulations of the tournament.
He also released the rules and regulations of the tournament.
The first-of-its-kind Tinkhundla National Talent Search Competition, with a total sponsorship package of E2 million wholly funded by Government with athletics and arts also to benefit fro the package.
