By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) CEO Darius Dlomo said it was time athletes avoid representing the country with the universality slots in international games, but go there on merit, qualifying.
With 38 days to go before the 2024 Paris Olympics Games start in France, there is no athlete that have qualified for the games in the country. Eswatini was given three universality slots for swimming and athletics. Universality slots are awarded to nations who are under represented in the Olympic Games even if the athletes haven’t met the sport’s Olympic qualifying times.
The country’s athletes still have a chance of making it to the games through qualifying in the African Senior Athletics Championships to be held in Cameroon where five athletes will be competing with the Olympics spots up for grabs.
Dlomo said they were expecting to send a team of qualified athletes to the 2028 Los Angels Olympics Games. He said it was disappointing that the country’s top athlete were struggling to qualify for the international games.
He said it was time that the country’s athletes compete for podium finish both at regional and continental competitions.
“Countries like Lesotho have athletes who had made it through to the Olympics through qualifying. It is time that Eswatini athletes also fight to qualify for such games or at least get closest to the qualifying times. This is a plea from government that is investing money in sports,” he said.
The ESRC is behind financing the team going to Cameroon. The five athletes are Sibusiso ‘Swazi Bolt’ Matsenjwa, Mlandvo Maziya, Thandaza Zwane, Bongiwe Mahlalela and Mcebo Mkhaliphi who are all to compete in 100m and 200m with the men’s team also competing in the 4X100m.
Dlomo was also addressing the Wrestling team that is attending the African Beach Wrestling Champions in Dakar, Senegal. Representing the country in the games are Sihle Dlamini and Nkosinathi Makhanya.
