‘RAMBO’ GETS SILVER, OTHERS BRONZE IN REGION V CHAMPS

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)

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