By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – For the first time in the history of sports in the country, wrestlers Sihle Dlamini and Nkosinathi Makhanya will compete in the African Beach Wrestling Championships to be held from June 22-23 in Dakar, Senegal.
Sihle Dlamini will compete in the under-60kg while Nkosinathi Makhanya will be in the under-70kg. Wrestling is a new sport in the country and Eswatini will be represented for the first time in the championships.
The team was bid farewell on Monday by the Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) Chief Executive Officer Darius Dlomo, Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) CEO Maxwell Jele and Wrestling Eswatini President Sydney Simelane.
The two wrestlers will be under the guidance of Coach Gugulethu Mamba. The tournament will be a senior-level event in eight weight classes, four each in men’s and women’s. The competition in men’s will be held in 70kg, 80kg, 90kg and +90kg while women will compete in 50kg, 60kg, 70kg, and +70kg weight classes.
Simelane said wrestling was one of the oldest Olympic sports and it was high time that the country also play the sport. He said it was for the first country that Eswatini sent athletes to wrestling championships.
“Thanks to the wrestling mother body as they catered for the trip including air tickets, accommodation, registration and meals among other things. We also got support from Eswatini Procurement Agency that dressed the team,” he said.
Simelane added that the two athletes won’t be only competing in the games but they will also be empowered in terms of coaching classes.
Simelane said this was a sport where the athletes compete and it is not for entertainment only as like the famous wrestling watched on TV.
One of the athletes Nkosinathi Makhanya said they were ready for the challenge ahead and they are going to do their best in the competitions.
