Times Of Swaziland: EZULWINI UNITED PLAYERS SCORE HEALTH AWARENESS WIN

EZULWINI UNITED PLAYERS SCORE HEALTH AWARENESS WIN
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Mengameli Mabuza on 19/11/2024 08:57:00


EZULWINI – Ezulwini United players expressed their gratitude to the team’s
management for organising the team Wellness Fair Day held at SibaneSami Hotel on
Saturday.
The primary objective of this initiative is to raise awareness among players
about critical health issues affecting footballers. It also aims to sensitise
them to important societal challenges impacting their communities and to provide
insights into matters that affect their welfare and careers. The Wellness Fair
will cover a range of significant topics, including gender-based violence (GBV),
the Sexual Offences Domestic Violence (SODV) Act, player self-care, sports
psychology, and financial management.
One of the senior players of the ‘Stingers’, Mangaliso ‘Ngrasho’
Nkambule, expressed his appreciation for the Wellness Fair Day and suggested
that the event should be organised by the Premier League of Eswatini for the
benefit of all players in the country, as gender-based violence and road
accidents also affect them as players. “As a player, I would like to thank the
club for providing us with this opportunity to learn about important societal
issues, such as gender-based violence, and for inviting experts like Siyabonga
Mabuza to educate us about sports psychology.
His teachings were invaluable, especially his advice to remember that we are
individuals first, before we are soccer players, and to focus on our own growth
and well-being, instead of comparing ourselves to others,” he said. In
agreement, team captain Mandla Palma stated that events like the Wellness Fair
Day are essential for players, particularly in the current era where
gender-based violence is becoming more prevalent.
Influence
“As soccer players, we hold significant influence and responsibility as role
models for the younger generation. I am incredibly grateful to the team
management for organising this meaningful exercise, which provides us with an
invaluable opportunity to learn and embody the values that are so crucial in
today’s society,” he said. According to the team’s head coach Musa
Manyatsi, the Wellness Fair Day is a significant event as it provides players
with an opportunity to increase their awareness of important social issues and
engage in meaningful discussions about these topics.
“Today’s Wellness Fair Day has allowed us to discuss sensitive issues that
are prevalent in our society, such as the alarming rates of violence and
domestic abuse. By engaging in these conversations, we have provided our players
with a deeper understanding of these issues and imparted essential guidance on
how they can carry themselves both on and off the field with respect and
integrity,” he said. The Wellness Fair Day was well-attended by a range of
stakeholders, including Mbuso Dlamini, the Founder of Ezulwini United, team
players, management representatives and a variety of subject matter experts.