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‘SWAZI BOLT’ IN FLIGHT SCARE

06/03/2014 05:29:00 BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO

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MBABANE – Sprinter Sibusiso ‘Swazi Bolt’ Matsenjwa was among scores of passengers that made an emergency landing at OR Tambo, Johannesburg International Airport on Tuesday night aboard the Lufthansa Airline flight.

The 24 year old had to spend the day yesterday in a hotel in South Africa after the flight had to return to the OR Tambo International Airport after developing mechanical problems, two hours after it took off from the airport enroute to Frankfurt, Germany where Matsenjwa was to connect to Poland. He will represent the country in the IAAF World Indoor Championships starting on Friday.
He left the country on Tuesday through Matsapha International Airport at 1:50pm.

A source close to the matter said there are some athletes from South Africa who were also on board the flight.
“At first I was scared when it was announced that there was smoke coming from the exit door of the plane. It was announced that the plane would go back to OR Tambo where it took off for safety and we landed well having spent about two hours in the air,” he said.

The Royal Swaziland Police (RSP) athlete spent the day in South Africa booked in a hotel with the other passengers.
They were scheduled to leave Johannesburg for Frankfurt last night at 9:30pm.
“This is not good for my performance as I will not get enough time to rest. Now I will arrive in Poland on Thursday evening while I may compete on Friday,” Matsenjwa said.

Athletics Association of Swaziland (AAS) Secretary Thoba Mazibuko said it was an unfortunate incident.
He said the delay on the trip for the athlete was going to cost him his performance. “We got the report that his flight to Germany developed some mechanical faults two hours after takeoff on Tuesday evening and he is still in Johannesburg. We hope something is done soon and he arrives in Poland to compete,” he said.

Mazibuko said lack of funds saw the athlete travelling alone to the competitions. Matsenjwa was to travel with his coach Muzi Mabuza if the AAS secured a ticket for him. The ticket costs less than E15 000.