MBABANE – ENVA takes strides into the future.
The Young Athletes Volleyball Rally under the Chakaza Nkhanyeti DNSS Programme took place at the Olympia Centre at Lobamba on Saturday, commencing at 9am and concluding at 4pm. The Development of National Sports System is a strategic initiative funded by Olympic Solidarity. It is designed to help national sports federations develop sustainable structures, with a primary focus on coaching, grassroots talent identification and administrative capacity.
This event showcased the growing talent in Eswatini’s volleyball scene, drawing young players from across the country.
According to Thabo Dlamini, the Secretary General of the Eswatini National Volleyball Association (ENVA), 13 out of the 15 established centres were represented.
The participants spanned a wide range of age groups, from as young as eight years old up to Under-17, highlighting the programme’s inclusive approach to nurturing talent at grassroots level.
The rally forms part of ENVA’s ongoing commitment to developing and empowering young athletes through structured competition, mentorship and consistent training.
It provided an opportunity to bring together participants from the various centres for competitive matches, allowing coaches and officials to assess progress.
ENVA President Eric Gama expressed immense pride in the programme’s impact, stating that when it first started, many people found it hard to believe.
“Today, however, the event and the high standard of play are a true testament that the DNSS programme is indeed a life changer,” remarked Gama.
He added that they can proudly attest that the nation is on the rise when it comes to volleyball. With approximately 200 young athletes participating, he shared that it is inspiring to see how well they have grasped the fundamentals of the game.
“The future of volleyball in our country is brighter than ever,” he added.
Meanwhile, Wise Dlamini, the ENVA Vice President, provided further insight into the initiative’s origins and objectives.
“This is a project that we started last year around September-October. This project is supported by the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) and is centred mainly on development,” expressed Wise.
Looking ahead, ENVA plans to secure additional sponsorships to sustain and expand the initiative. The association extended gratitude to the EOCGA for their invaluable support.
Furthermore, the next steps include establishing pick teams from all four regions to advance in line with the programme’s long-term vision of creating a sustainable pipeline for national team talent.
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