By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – Some of the National Sports Awards winners stand a chance of representing the country in the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Regional Annual Sports Awards.
There were 10 winners that were crowned on Friday evening at Esibayeni Lodge during the awards hosted by the Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC). Some of the winners of the night will be nominated for the AUSC Region Annual Awards.
The country had a chance of doing well in the AUSC Regional Awards as it has been happening in the past. In 2023, our Outstanding Junior Sportsman, Sihlelelwe Matsebula, was crowned Junior Sportsman of the Year, while our Outstanding Junior Sportswoman, Hayley Hoy, was crowned Junior Sportswoman of the Year in 2024.
Some of the winners on the night were outstanding junior woman: Ndoniyamanzi Luhlanga, outstanding junior man: Luca Fraser, outstanding sports team: Chess, outstanding sports association: Cricket, outstanding journalists print Mgcini Dube (Eswatini Observer), outstanding coach: Velile Dube, outstanding senior sportsman: Banele Mndzebele (Darts), outstanding administrator: Mandla Dlamini (Cricket), outstanding senior sportswoman: Nontsikelelo Msibi (Darts) and outstanding sports journalists online, Linda ‘Master’ Dlamini (Eswatini TV).
Meanwhile, Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima said he noted the absence of the Outstanding Disability Sportsman and Sportswoman categories from this year’s edition with a heavy heart.
“Sports Awards are developed to motivate sports excellence which is a journey towards earning a living through sports components. Ladies and gentlemen, as many of you may know, category winners here tonight will automatically become nominees for the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Regional Annual Sports Awards. It fills me with pride to see our athletes recognised among the best in the region.
