LISWATI STRANDED AT QATAR AIRPORT, FAINTS, MISSES EWC GAMES

MBABANE – In a shocking turn of events, liswati representative Kroos Lukhele has been unable to participate in the opening games of the Esports World Cup due to a sudden illness.

This distressing news was confirmed by the head of Development at the Eswatini Esports Association (EEA), Mbuso Dlamini. Lukhele departed for Saudi Arabia this past Saturday, poised to compete in the Esports World Cup held in Riyadh.  The tournament boasts a staggering prize pool of E15 million, where he was to face off against formidable opponents from the Czech Republic, Venezuela and Ghana. Originally, he was scheduled to compete in three games yesterday; with the potential to advance to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals of the eFootball edition should he qualify.

The tournament commenced last Monday and is set to conclude tomorrow. Following the event, Lukhele was also expected to attend the annual general meeting (AGM) of the International Esports Federation (IEF) and participate in various workshops before returning home this coming weekend. “Kroos might not be able to compete in the WEC24. He is currently unwell and is receiving treatment in a hospital in Riyadh, after experiencing a severe bout of jet lag,” Dlamini reported. “He fainted in his hotel and was swiftly taken to hospital.” When questioned about the possibility of his participation in the tournament, a correspondent from the International Esports Federation (IEF) indicated that it seems improbable for one country’s delay to affect the proceedings of over 140 nations, especially in light of the circumstances being beyond anyone’s control.

Tumultuous

“It has been a tumultuous few hours for him. His flight from South Africa was delayed by over four hours due to thunderstorms, resulting in him missing his connecting flight from Dubai to Riyadh. Compounding his misfortune, he faced a ticketing issue that prevented him from accessing the lounge, as Emirates mistakenly downgraded his ticket, forcing him to spend the night at the airport,” Dlamini explained. Lukhele is experiencing the classic symptoms of jet lag, including extreme fatigue, sleepiness and digestive disruptions, which have impaired his cognitive clarity. “It’s a real disappointment, but we remain hopeful for his swift recovery,” he added.

Meanwhile, late yesterday evening, Lukhele appeared stable and contacted this reporter, stating: “I experienced severe jet lag, which unfortunately left me physically very weak. I had to be admitted to hospital, but I am recovering well. The doctors indicated that this is normal, considering the rapid change of time zones three times within 24 hours, compounded by a lack of sleep. However, I should be fine. Regrettably, I can no longer compete at the World Cup, as the doctors have advised that I am not well enough. It’s particularly unfortunate because the player who was supposed to accompany me to Saudi Arabia as a reserve withdrew at the last minute for personal reasons.”

Dumsani Ntiwane, Media Officer for the Eswatini Sports and Recreation Council (ESRC), expressed concern over the situation which they were not aware off.  “We are deeply troubled by this development as an organisation and will conduct our own investigation to assist where possible.”In esports, an ill player is typically substituted with a healthy competitor. However, in the absence of a suitable replacement, the player must withdraw from the tournament.

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