BY VUYISWA MABILA
MBABANE – The 2025/2026 second edition of the Tinkhundla Talent Search Competition has been officially launched by the minister of sports, culture and youth affairs, Bongani Ndzima at Esibayeni Lodge today.
For the first time, participation will occur at chiefdom level rather than the traditional Inkhundla level, widening the talent pool and ensuring that promising athletes from every corner of the country have a chance to be identified. Additionally, the tournament will adopt a league format instead of the conventional knockout system. This approach guarantees more game time, exposure, and learning opportunities for young players, helping them develop their skills without the risk of early elimination.
Teams will be allowed to register 20 players and five officials, with the competition targeting young boys and girls both in and out of school. The initiative is not just about sports; it aims to promote health, social cohesion, patriotism, and community unity, while creating a sustainable pathway for youth talent identification.
“The Tinkhundla Talent Search primarily seeks to unearth hidden talent and ignite football and netball passion across the nation through the hosting of this tournament. Beyond the sport isteslf, it’s aims to effectively utilise football/netball as a tool to improve national health, promote sport as a catalylist for social change, foster community unity and harmony while consolidating patriotism and national pride and also maximise participation in sport at grassroots levels, providing a suitable platform for youth football/netball talent participation.” Said Minister.
The competition is supported and organized by a collaborative team comprising the Eswatini Football Association, Eswatini Netball Association, Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council, Parliament Sports Portfolio Committee, and the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs. The Ministry emphasized that sport is not only about recreation but also about empowerment, discipline, and national pride, with football being the most popular sport in the Kingdom.
As the 2025/2026 Tinkhundla Talent Search kicks off, young athletes across Eswatini now have an exciting platform to showcase their talent, gain experience, and potentially launch careers that could see them represent the nation on bigger stages.
The launch marked the beginning of what promises to be a season full of passion, discovery, unity, and excellence.
(Courtesy Pic)
