BY SABELO GWEBU
MBABANE– The Chairman of the National Athletes Commission Sibusiso ‘Swazi Bolt’ Matsenjwa and his vice, Phumlile Ndzinisa attended the African Athletes Forum in Algiers, Algeria this past weekend.
The two-day jam-packed program discussed opportunities, and challenges concerning athletes and how they can improve the sport nationwide, abroad, and around the African continent. The forum was then followed by elections for their peers to represent all the national Athletes Commissions in the continent at the world stage
The African Athletes Forum was organised by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) in collaboration with Olympic Solidarity and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Department.
Also, the event is aimed at planning how to better care for athletes of the continent by developing a suitable framework for the implementation and follow-up of support measures for African athletes.
The meeting was part of the implementation of the ANOCA strategic plan to boost sport and Olympism. It afforded a platform to brainstorm the management of athletes’ careers, and their post-career and socio-professional lives.
“I and Phumlile are hoping to learn and network especially because all the athletes’ representatives are here. When we go back home we won’t be the same as we came. Also, I’ve learned that you must always be on good terms with your National Olympic Committee and national federation for a smooth working relationship,” Swazi Bolt, the 100m, 200m and 60m national record holder said when reached from Algiers.
The duo also met with ANOCA President Mustapha Berraf.
