LOBAMBA – Athletics Eswatini has unveiled a new Team Eswatini Cross Country Committee tasked with preparing the country’s athletes for next year’s historic African Cross Country Championships.
The committee was announced by Athletics Eswatini (AE) President Zakhele Dlamini yesterday during the launch of Team Eswatini Cross Country at the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) headquarters.
Eswatini will host the seventh African Cross Country Championships in March 2027, marking the first time the continental event will be staged in the country.
Dlamini said the new committee had been established to focus specifically on Team Eswatini and ensure the country was properly prepared to compete when Africa’s leading distance runners arrive.
“The mandate of this committee is singular and clear: to focus solely on Team Eswatini,” Dlamini said.
The committee will coordinate the national team programme, lead resource mobilisation and sponsorship drives, oversee athlete preparation and ensure Eswatini fields a competitive team at the championships.
Dlamini stressed that the committee would operate separately from the Local Organising Committee, which is responsible for hosting the continental event.
While the Local Organising Committee (LOC) will handle logistics, accommodation, venues, technical delivery and delegations, the new committee will concentrate on preparing Eswatini’s athletes for competition.
The Athletics Eswatini president said the country could not afford to be mere hosts.
“We want Eswatini to experience these Championships not just as spectators, but as competitors, with our athletes lining up proudly against the best in Africa,” he said.
The first national trials are scheduled for October 31 at Mavuso, outside the Sports Centre, followed by another trial on November 28 at Methula Inkhundla in the Shiselweni Region.
Dlamini said the trials would form part of a transparent selection process to identify the country’s strongest athletes for the 2027 championships.
He also called on the private sector and athletics stakeholders to support Team Eswatini, saying the opportunity should be used to build a team capable of making the country proud.
Head Coach Eward Ndlangamandla described the championships as a rare opportunity for local athletes to compete against some of Africa’s leading distance-running nations.
He said athletes should embrace the opportunity to gain valuable international exposure, with Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya expected to provide strong competition.
Ndlangamandla also encouraged schools and other stakeholders to come forward and assist in developing the team.
Meanwhile, Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Darius Dlomo said Government was fully behind the championships but expected both the preparations and hosting to be conducted to the highest standards.
He said the investment in the event should translate into a successful championship and urged the newly appointed committee and coaching team to ensure Eswatini was properly prepared.
Team Eswatini Cross Country Committee
• Chairperson: Tinavu Mushavu
• Member: Thulani Sibeko
• Member: Nothando Mhlanga
• Secretariat: Athletics Eswatini Secretariat
• Head Coach: Eward Ndlangamandla
• Assistant Coach: Hamilton Mhlanga
