MBABANE – As Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg prepares to table the 2026 Budget Speech in Parliament this morning, Eswatini’s sporting fraternity is waiting with bated breath.
The central question remains whether fiscal allocations will finally address the crumbling infrastructure stifling local talent.
While associations expressed gratitude for consistent support through the Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC), a singular, cross-cutting crisis persists: The lack of facilities.
Eswatini Athletics (EA) Communications Officer Victor ‘Mavikane’ Dlamini warned that the kingdom is falling behind neighbours like Botswana. He highlighted that the Mavuso Sports Centre’s synthetic track is worn out, while Somhlolo National Stadium remains inaccessible.
“We will always lament our performance in international competitions if the ‘elephant in the room’—substandard facilities—is not confronted,” Dlamini stated.
The Eswatini National Netball Association (ENNA) echoed these concerns. Secretary General Nkabinde Shabalala praised the E350 000 investment in the Tinkhundla Talent Search, but noted that elite netball is currently restricted to just two courts within the Mbabane-Manzini corridor.
Both Shabalala and Eswatini Boxing Association (EBA) President Webster Lukhele called for a High-Performance Centre. Currently, only football enjoys a dedicated technical centre at Lobamba, forcing other codes to outsource expensive camping facilities or reduce international delegations, which diminishes medal prospects.
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