MBABANE – A challenging start awaits the Eswatini men’s national netball team as they prepare to lock horns with hosts Malawi.
The Eswatini senior men’s netball outfit have a date with the Malawians in their opening fixture of the 2025 Africa Netball Cup.
The highly-anticipated clash is scheduled for today at the Griffin Saenda Sports Complex in Lilongwe, with the first whistle blowing at noon. The continental showpiece, which officially got underway two days ago, is set to conclude on Sunday, featuring 11 participating nations.
Due to budget constraints, the Eswatini National Netball Association (ENNA) has dispatched only the men’s team to compete in this year’s tournament. The Eswatini squad finds itself in the same group as today’s opponents, Malawi and Kenya.
The hosts, Malawi, have also recently followed Eswatini’s lead in establishing a male national team for the sport. Notably, Malawi will face a formidable challenge tomorrow, battling Kenya, a side that boasts a wealth of international experience, in a match also kicking off at noon.
Eswatini, however, enters the tournament with a pedigree, having made a spectacular maiden appearance in the African Cup games last year in Namibia. They rapidly established themselves as strong contenders, securing the position of runners-up after a hard-fought final against powerhouses South Africa.
Head Coach Vumbukhosi Ndlangamandla, assisted by Wandile Sithole, has named a strong squad dominated by players from the defending league champions, Green Lightning. Key names from the champions club include Simanga ‘Mgwaja’ Vilakati, Mandisa ‘MacPeace’ Sihlongonyane and Captain Fortune Neves.
The rest of the roster is completed by players from Royal Flames, a single representative from Buffaloes and one from Vixens.
In a crucial move to ensure preparedness, the team recently travelled for a preparatory friendly match against a Mpumalanga District team. The fixture was held at Thokozani Sports Ground, the home of Rockstarz Netball club, in Piet Retief, Mpumalanga, allowing Coach Ndlangamandla to test their readiness for the prestigious continental event.
Off the court, ENNA Vice President Philile Khathwane serves as the Head of Delegation, with Nhlanhla ‘Khula’ Ngcamphalala taking on the role of Team Manager.
The semi-finals and play-offs for the tournament are scheduled to be played on December 13.
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