LOBAMBA – Drawing crucial lessons from the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) is confident the nation can deliver a far stronger performance at the next edition in 2030.
Speaking at a press conference at the EOCGA offices in Lobamba, Team Eswatini Chef de Mission and EOCGA Vice-President Zakhele Dlamini reflected on the team’s campaign following their return home.
While Eswatini concluded the Games without a medal, several members of the 10-athlete delegation recorded personal bests and season-best performances on the international stage.
Looking ahead to the 2030 Games in India, Dlamini stressed that international competition standards continue to rise rapidly, requiring Eswatini to elevate its preparation strategy accordingly.
“Our athletes gave it their all in the competition and we are confident valuable lessons were learnt,” Dlamini stated. “Medals are not won during the main event; they are won at the preparation phase. Our key takeaway is that preparations for the 2030 Games must start immediately.”
Dlamini highlighted the necessity of early talent identification, focused grooming in targeted sporting disciplines, and securing international exposure for high-potential athletes.
“The talent is undoubtedly there,” Dlamini added. “We need to expose our athletes to high-performance environments abroad. A clear example is swimmer Siwakhile Dlamini, whose training stint in Australia has yielded visible, significant improvements.”
Echoing these sentiments, EOCGA Chief Executive Officer Maxwell Jele commended the delegation for representing the Kingdom with distinction.
“Our overall assessment is that the team delivered a brave and highly competitive performance,” Jele said. “A number of our athletes achieved personal and season-best times. Frequently placing third or fourth in competitive preliminary heats demonstrates that Eswatini possesses immense untapped potential.”
“We tip our hats to the gallant efforts of Team Eswatini. Although we did not reach the podium, the individual results and overall trajectory remain exceptionally encouraging,” Jele concluded.
Even during the heats, EOCGA notes that local athletes are mostly placed in third or fourth position in their respective events, which is a sign that the country has potential.
“We’d like to take our hats off to the gallant performance of Team Eswatini. Despite the fact that we do not achieve a podium finish, the results and performance from the team are very encouraging,” Jele says.
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