UNESWA rule BOLESWA Intervarsity Games

MBABANE – Cheers echoed across the courts and tracks in Lesotho, as UNESWA athletes delivered commanding performances during the revived BOLESWA Intervarsity Games.

The Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini (BOLESWA) Intervarsity Games returned this year after a five-year hiatus, following their suspension in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Eswatini initially held hosting rights for the postponed edition, the National University of Lesotho (NUL) hosted the revived competition, while the University of Botswana (UB) was absent.

The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) emerged as the standout institution, collecting several titles across multiple sporting codes during the week-long tournament. UNESWA athletes secured victories in men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s basketball, athletics, pool table, darts and aerobics.

The Eswatini-based institution also finished runners-up in a number of disciplines including women’s basketball, netball, chess, cricket, taekwondo, boxing, tennis and rugby.

UNESWA Student Representative Council (SRC) Internal Affairs Minister Mduduzi Mkhonta, confirmed the results and hailed the institution’s performance across the various sporting codes.

Several notable Eswatini athletes participated, including Amawele winger Wandile Ntshakala, who was among the players representing the country’s tertiary institution.

Players from Matsapha Roses also formed part of the UNESWA delegation. Their participation in the intervarsity competition led to the postponement of the Eswatini National Women’s League fixture between Roses and Nsingizini Hotspurs.

The final day of the games was reserved for cultural activities and the awards ceremony before the participating delegations prepared for departure en route home today.

While medals and trophies were awarded, the BOLESWA Games are primarily regarded as friendship competitions between tertiary institutions in the region, with no cash prizes attached.

Instead, the tournament offers an opportunity for student-athletes from the neighbouring countries to compete, interact and strengthen sporting ties through intervarsity competition.