BY VUYISWA MABILA
MBABANE – The Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) Chief Executive Officer, Maxwell Jele, has challenged the Basketball Association of Eswatini (BASE) to ensure the country’s basketball team competes in the AUSC Region 5 Games scheduled for Maputo, Mozambique, next year.
Jele made the remarks during the official handover of E117,000 funding to BASE at the EOCGA offices today. The financial support, provided through Olympic Solidarity, will fund a basketball coaching development course that begins this Wednesday and runs until Sunday.
The course will train 15 local coaches in both technical and tactical aspects of the game, under the guidance of Lazare Adingono, a highly respected Cameroonian-American coach who currently leads Primeiro de Agosto, one of Angola’s top basketball clubs.
Jele said the funding marks an important step toward building capacity within the sport and encouraged BASE to use the opportunity to prepare teams that can compete beyond national borders.
“I am giving BASE a challenge to have athletes participating in the AUSC Region 5 Games in Maputo next year,” Jele said. “With the experience that these coaches will gain from this programme, we hope to see Eswatini represented in regional competitions.”
The EOCGA CEO emphasized that the Olympic Solidarity programme is meant to strengthen sports development in Eswatini by empowering coaches, improving competitiveness, and ensuring sustainability in various sporting codes.
BASE President expressed gratitude for the support, noting that the association is committed to using the opportunity to elevate the standard of basketball across the country.
The coaching course forms part of broader efforts to professionalize basketball in Eswatini, which has been growing steadily in schools and communities despite challenges related to facilities, funding, and international exposure.
With renewed support and stronger technical expertise, Eswatini basketball now sets its sights on making history by competing at next year’s Region 5 Games in Maputo.
(Courtesy Pic)
