Times Of Swaziland: ‘RAMBO’ GETS SILVER, OTHERS BRONZE IN REGION V CHAMPS

‘RAMBO’ GETS SILVER, OTHERS BRONZE IN REGION V CHAMPS
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Ntombikayise Gwebu on 31/08/2024 07:14:00


MATSAPHA – The future of darts is in safe hands.
This follows a spectacular performance showcased by Eswatini youth players in
the 2024 African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region V Darts Championships. The
competition that started on Wednesday ended on a high note yesterday. Banele
‘Rambo’ Mndzebele headlined the winners, bagging a silver medal after an
intense final battle with Zimbabwe’s Stendy Chingono. Mndzebele came from
behind to equalise leading to a decider match.
Chingono narrowly escaped ‘Rambo’s wrath, with the match having ended in
3-4. ‘Rambo’, who claimed a bronze medal in the same category in 2022, said
his achievement in the competition was through hard work. “It is all because
of hard work. I lost to a best player. I have to fix my doubles,” Mndzebele
said. Furthermore, the duo of Simphiwe Madzinane and Nontsikelelo Msibi earned
bronze medals after showing incredible throwing skills.
Competed
Madzinane competed in the open singles youth category this past Wednesday. “I
am truly happy to have surpassed my expectations, especially since it was a
national team debut,” Madzinane said. Meanwhile, Msibi played in the closed
singles two days back. “Inasmuch as I am elated to have secured a medal, I
have to up my game next time,” Msibi said.
In the veterans’ category, seasoned player Jethro Ndzingane added to his tally
of medals. He secured a bronze in the closed singles game. Eswatini National
Darts Association (ENDA) Development Officer Thandeka Mkhonto lauded the
performance. “Team Eswatini has made significant strides since the last games
in 2022. Our youth upgraded their Bronze Medal to Gold, winning all their
matches decisively. We are proud of our performance, although we noted that
there are areas for improvement as we move forward,” Mkhonto said.
Dominated
She said the country’s youth dominated both the Singles and Team Events,
igniting a new passion within the team. “Many players have identified areas
for growth related to training and participation in international tournaments
across the SADC region. “We have learned valuable lessons from all
perspectives this time, and we are confident in our ability to improve, as
demonstrated by our youth’s achievements,” she said. (More reports in next
publication)