MBABANE – The AUSC Region 5 Youth Games torch added a powerful regional flavour to the launch of the MTN Siyabhampisa 3×3 Basketball Series in Mbabane on Saturday.
Young basketball players got the chance to experience the torch, which is travelling across Southern Africa ahead of the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games in Maputo, Mozambique, in December.
The torch was displayed during the basketball launch, with players and teams taking photographs alongside it.
MTN Eswatini described the moment as a special occasion for sport in Eswatini, saying the torch represented unity, excellence and youth empowerment.
The telecommunications company also highlighted the role of sport in connecting and inspiring young people across Southern Africa.
The Eswatini Basketball Association incorporated the torch awareness activation into the Siyabhampisa launch, giving the young players an opportunity to connect with the wider regional sporting movement.
The MTN Siyabhampisa 3×3 Series will feature Under-18, Under-23 and Open categories for both men and women.
The three-a-side series is aimed at creating more opportunities for players across different age groups to compete and showcase their talent.
The launch programme included a photoshoot of participating teams and messages from MTN Eswatini and members of the EOCGA Board.
The torch arrived in Eswatini from South Africa as part of its regional relay and is expected to leave for Lesotho tomorrow before continuing its journey towards Mozambique.
The AUSC Region 5 Youth Games will take place in Maputo from December 4-14, with Mozambique hosting the competition.
The first MTN Siyabhampisa 3×3 tournament will be held in Manzini on October 10, with teams encouraged to register for the series.
The arrival of the torch at the basketball launch provided a symbolic link between grassroots competition in Eswatini and the wider Southern African sporting stage.
