By Mbongeni Vilakati
MBABANE – The Eswatini Cue Sports Association (ECSA) made a groundbreaking inclusion by adding people living with disabilities’ category in the two-days National Blackball Championship 2024.
The championships were held at Princess Pholile Hall in Malkerns on Saturday and Sunday (July 20-21, 2024).
This momentous decision marks a significant step towards inclusivity in sports in the country. Mandlenkhosi ‘Steering’ Mabaso emerged as the champions in the people living with disabilities’ category which feature about five participants. They played in their category using the round robin format.
When interviewed, Steering expressed immerse gratitude for ECSA’s initiative and urged more individuals to join the sport.
“This is a good initiative. I was hoping to see many participants in the competition. I hope other regions can foster this program, and if it was possible, these individuals can be trained so that they may feel inclusive,” he said.
He further emphasized the unique perspectives and abilities of people living with disabilities. He encouraged the community to recognize and celebrate these differences, fostering a more inclusive environment for everyone.
The Eswatini Cue Sports Association (ECSA) Secretary General (SG) Mbongeni Gamadze expressed his enthusiasm for the category, encouraging people living with disabilities to join the sport.
“We would like to encourage people living with disabilities to be part of us as it’s a non-discriminatory sport. We’d also appeal to corporate companies to assist in sponsorship,” he said.
This move by ECSA has not only paves the way for greater participation but also sets an example for other associations to follow. The initiative is expected to inspire many and could lead to broader changes in how sports associations accommodate and empower individuals living with disabilities.
