TOGETHER WE CAN – HERMAN JELE

An apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

His father, Tom Jele is a former president of the Eswatini National Tennis Association (ENTA), his two brothers, Derrick (eldest) and youngest, Maxwell, have also held the same position in the organisation with immeasurable success. In fact, Maxwell is the current president of the ENTA and new vice president of the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) and Herman is the new Eswatini Swimming Association (ESA) president.

Leadership runs in the veins of the Jele family. It is in their DNA and the modest Herman describes it as a calling and says the driving force is the goal to leave a legacy. “Our father led with integrity and that’s our aspiration too,” he says matter-of-factly. While the proud father watches from a distant his off-springs take on national leadership, the elder son, Derrick, a former ENTA president himself, is the brain-trust for his siblings who are still serving diligently in the various leadership positions of two of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

Eswatini is lucky to have a family of leaders who are driven by the passion to lead and most importantly people who understand how sport can play a pivotal role in social cohesion and uplifting the economy. Herman says this culture was inculcated at an early age to him and through a grass-root programme called ‘Sportykidz’ he is able to give pre-school children the confidence and desire to take up sports even before they start Grade I classes. The Swimming president believes creating a strong partnership with the private sector and also working closely with the international swimming organisation, FINA (Federation of International De Natation), his executive committee can be able to achieve their ultimate goal of turning the sport’s lemons to lemonade. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Eswatini Swimming Association (ESA) president on the Chairman’s Chair. Enjoy your reading…..

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