TAEKWONDO NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION BEGINS

MBABANE – The selection process for the national taekwondo squad commenced last Saturday at the OlympAfrica Centre in Lobamba.
The taekwondo artists are competing for the opportunity to represent Eswatini in forthcoming international competitions.

Taekwondo Federation President Zakhele Dlamini emphasised that the primary aim is to select players for prestigious events, notably the All-Africa Taekwondo Championships scheduled for June in Rwanda.

Dlamini acknowledged the slow registration turnout thus far, highlighting the need to prepare the squad adequately for the challenges ahead.

Selecting

“We are in the process of selecting athletes who will represent the country in upcoming international competitions, including the All-Africa Taekwondo Championships in Rwanda in June. Unfortunately, the registration numbers have been quite low, and we hope this improves as we continue the selection process. For now, we are focusing on training the athletes to facilitate weekend training sessions. We have cadets, juniors and seniors involved,” Dlamini stated.

The team selection will comprise eight male and eight female athletes, alongside nine junior females and nine junior males also under consideration. In total, 20 cadets will participate in the selection process.

Dlamini pointed out that financial constraints often hinder Eswatini’s ability to send a fully-prepared squad to international competitions.

“Sometimes, we are let down by finances, which limits us in sending a full squad that meets the required standard. However, we continue to push forward, and we are determined to ensure that our athletes are well-prepared for the upcoming events,” Dlamini explained.

On the coaching front, Taekwondo National Team Coach Mancoba Motsa shared his insights regarding the selection process.

He noted that this first selection of the year is crucial for preparing athletes to meet international standards.

“As coaches, our primary task is to ensure that the players learn how to match the level of international competition. We teach them when to attack, when to defend, and most importantly, how to manage their time during a match.

Fitness and stamina are also critical aspects that we assess,” Motsa remarked.

Prepare

Looking ahead, Motsa outlined several key events for which the selected athletes will prepare. The World Cadets Games are set for May 10, 2025, in Fugaria, with another competition scheduled for April.

“If the players we send to these competitions can maintain their titles, we will shortlist them for the Fugaria event in May,” he added.

Junior players will be selected to represent Eswatini in the African Junior Championships, taking place in Lagos, Nigeria, this August.

Meanwhile, the senior team aims to qualify for the World Senior Championships in October, which will be held in China. Despite lower-than-expected attendance at the selection sessions, Motsa remains optimistic. “It seems that some players are occupied with school projects, which might be affecting their attendance. However, the athletes who have been attending show great improvement and appear to be adapting well to the training,” Motsa concluded.

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