Times Of Swaziland: WHERE ARE THE GIRLS?

WHERE ARE THE GIRLS?
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Sports Reporter on 02/04/2023 16:23:00


Sunday greetings!
Chairperson of the Eswatini Sports and Recreation Council (ESRC), Celucolo
‘Dino’ Dlamini, though acknowledging the vast potential shown by boys, also
expressed worry at the lack of effort from the girls. The chairperson expressed
concern this week that should worry all of us. Where are the girls? Where have
they gone to? Why do those who are trying to compete displaying a lacklustre
showing? Of course, this could be down to a lot of reasons but chiefly among
these is the non-participation of our fairer sex in these athletics
competitions. We need more girls to participate not only in athletics but sports
in general. The girl child remains a special and protected species so to say.
Having said that, let us hasten to praise the Eswatini Schools Sports
Association (ESSA) for hosting a well organised Schools Athletics National
Championships, last Wednesday at the Mavuso Sports Centre. There is plenty room
for improvement, but we noted gleefully that the event was well attended with
the basics being taken care of by the organisers. Parents, guardians need to
play their part in this. We need to encourage our girls to go out there and show
the world what they are made of. It is true that a woman’s place is no longer
in the kitchen. What the ESRC chairperson raised should indeed worry everyone in
the sporting fraternity. Where are the girls? Even during the schools
competition at Mavuso last week, their performance was evidently below par. The
girls sadly failed to come to the party and it was obvious that a lot still
needs to be done to get them to the level they should be at. This is especially
true if the locals are to leave a mark in the forthcoming COSASSA Championships
in Zambia.
Winning and losing together
We have noted, albeit with disappointment, the division the 0-1 loss Sihlangu
suffered at the hands of Cape Verde has caused. There had been a lot of
finger-pointing and we would like to appeal for calm. Of course, everyone was
hoping that the squad would do the country proud in the ongoing AFCON
Qualifiers. Unfortunately, Islanders, Cape Verde had other ideas at the Mbombela
Stadium on Tuesday afternoon as the nation’s pride’s chances were left
hanging by the thread. The loss has seriously dented Sihlangu’s hopes of
making it into their maiden AFCON tournament. With two games left to play in the
qualifiers, the local boys need the maximum points in both outings and also pray
that results elsewhere go their way. It would not be easy, we know but our boys
should not dare give up now. This is not the time. There is still hope that they
can turn things around. They do not say fortune favours the brave for nothing.
As people we need to win together and lose together. Unity will see us through
and yes, divided we can only fall.
S. African dominates Lubombo Marathon
Well, all eyes were on the men’s 42km category yesterday during the Lubombo
Marathon. It is now history that a South African athlete, Sandile Khumalo, stole
the limelight after showing the locals a clean pair of heels. Royal Eswatini
Police Service (REPS) athlete, Samukelisiwe Thwala won the women’s section of
this category. Both athletes received E2 500 each for their efforts.
Congratulations are in order to all elite and social runners for taking part in
the competition.The standard was pretty high and the fast growing TZD Sports
Club really deserves a pat on the back for pulling off a wonderful and well
organised event. At the time of going to press, there had been no serious or
even minor incidents reported.
Until next week; sport for all; sports for life!