BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE – Umlabalaba, Draught and Cards competition are now part of
government’s sports agenda.
The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs has today hosted a first-of-its-
kind National draughts, mlabalaba and cards competition aimed at promoting
indigenous games in the country and further ensuring that no liSwati is left behind
in government’s sports development agenda.
When representing the minister of sports, Under Secretary Nhlanhla Motsa said in
a bid to develop all sports in the Kingdom, government was cognisant that it
cannot leave these indigenous games behind. He said these sporting codes remain
popular with a lot of our people particularly the older population. “Games like
these are important in stimulating our brains. We all know how critical it is to have
a population of healthy minds. We will further use this platform to encourage the
players of these games to form an Association,” he said.
Those who were crowned winners today include Kwaluseni (Draughts);
Bongumusa Zitha (Mlabalaba) and Sonnyboy Mpila and Sbhekile Mwelase
(Cards).
The Ministry has invested about E40 000 towards the activity with teams from
Manzini, Mbabane, Mafutseni, Kwaluseni, Nhlangano, Siteki and Lobamba.
