STRONG SQUAD FOR AFRICAN GAMES

MBABANE – The absence of swimming sensation Hayley Hoy in the African Games-bound squad has been explained.  

The Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) announced the 21-member squad for the upcoming African Games to be staged in Ghana next month.  However, swimmer Hoy will not be among them. EOCGA CEO Maxwell Jele explained that Hoy, an aspiring Olympian, was currently in Pretoria, South Africa, undergoing a specialised training programme with a new coach, Rocca Meiring, aimed at preparing her for the Paris Olympics. This decision was made in order to prioritise her qualification for the Olympics, necessitating her absence from the African Games. “Hayley is staying in Pretoria at the High Performance Centre (HPC) because she’s trying to focus on her preparations for qualification for the upcoming Olympics in France,” revealed Jele. Rocca Meiring, a South African Coach with extensive experience, is guiding Hoy through a programme focused on Olympic qualification, necessitating her dedicated training at the High Performance Centre (HPC) in Pretoria.

Preparation

Jele emphasised the importance of this strategic decision to ensure Hoy’s optimal preparation for the upcoming Olympics. Meiring, who is the Head Coach of Tuks Swimming Club, led Tatjana Schoenmaker to a gold medal two summers ago at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Meanwhile, Jele highlighted Zakhele Zulu was appointed as the Chef de Mission, with Zama Tsabedze serving as the General Team Manager. Nomvula Dlamini will be the physiotherapist. Jele expressed confidence that the All African Games will provide valuable preparation and serve as a qualifying platform for the Olympics, underlining the significance of this opportunity for the athletes. “Those going to the games; we have confidence that these games will assist them as they embark on their quest to qualify for the Olympics as some sporting codes in the Africa Games will serve as a qualifying criteria for the Olympics,” expressed the EOCGA CEO.  

Careful

Jele further emphasised the careful management of expenses, detailing the staggered travel arrangements designed to adhere to the allocated budget. Additionally, a pre-departure camp will be organised by EOCGA to brief the squad on the logistics of the games. “The team will travel in a staggered fashion; the team will not travel at once, which is dependent on when that particular sporting code is going to happen. This is because of the exorbitant costs of these African Games. The team will have a pre-departure camp in efforts of briefing them on the logistics of the games, the date is still to be announced,” said Jele. Meanwhile, the revealed squad comprises five member associations, including athletics, represented by two distinguished athletes, Sibusiso ‘Swazi Bolt’ Matsenjwa and Bongiwe Mahlalela. Matsenjwa, a seasoned Olympian, has a notable record in previous Olympic Games and holds national records in the 100 and 400 metres. Similarly, Mahlalela, a two-time national champion, achieved a remarkable performance in the Botswana Golden Grand Prix, solidifying her position as a formidable sprinter ahead of the All African Games.

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