Thembelisha crowned ISASA champions after four-point thriller

SIMUNYE – Thembelisha Preparatory School hosted the largest Independent Schools of Southern Africa (ISASA) primary schools athletics championships ever held in Eswatini.

More than a sporting spectacle, the championships marked another milestone in the growth of independent school athletics in the Kingdom as 12 ISASA-affiliated primary schools converged at Thembelisha Senior Preparatory Campus for the 2026 ISASA Eswatini Primary Schools Interschools Athletics Championships.

The event concluded with hosts Thembelisha Preparatory School emerging as overall champions after edging perennial rivals Usutu Forest School by a slender four-point margin in one of the closest finishes in the history of the competition.

Thembelisha accumulated 375 points to secure the title, while Usutu Forest School finished a close second on 371 points. Sifundzani claimed third place with 236 points, followed by Premier on 229 and Montessori in fifth place with 198 points.

The championships attracted learners from Thembelisha, Usutu Forest School, Jabulile, Hlanganani, Project Canaan, Ubombo Primary School, Premier, Imbuyiselo, Sifundzani, Montessori, Living Waters and Enjabulweni, making it the biggest ISASA primary schools athletics event ever staged in Eswatini.

Competition was spread over two days, beginning with field events on Thursday at Enjabulweni sports grounds under the stewardship of Jabulile. The championships concluded on Saturday with the track programme at Thembelisha, where athletes in the Under-8 to Under-13 age groups competed in a packed schedule featuring sprint races, middle-distance events, relays and other track disciplines.

The narrow contest for the overall championship kept spectators on edge until the final events, with every point proving decisive. Thembelisha eventually claimed the trophy after maintaining consistency across both the field and track disciplines.

Individual honours were also fiercely contested, with several young athletes delivering outstanding performances throughout the championships.

The Junior Victor title ended in a rare tie between Lamahle Dlamini of Premier and Alakhe Simelane of Thembelisha after both athletes produced exceptional performances across multiple events.

Monalisa Sikhosana of Ubombo Primary School was crowned Junior Victrix following an impressive display that earned her the highest individual honours in the junior girls’ division.

Usutu Forest School dominated the senior individual awards as Kenzo Kwashirayi was named Senior Victor, while Kumakwethu Dlamini secured the Senior Victrix title after excelling in her respective events.

The success of the championships was attributed to extensive collaboration between participating schools, teachers, technical officials and volunteers who spent several days preparing for the event.

The Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation (RES), whose school hosted the championships, provided logistical support to ensure the smooth running of the competition. Medical services throughout the day were provided by the Simunye Clinic team, while refreshments were supplied by Mhlume Country Club.

The successful hosting of both the field and track programmes also demonstrated strong cooperation between Jabulile and Thembelisha, with the two schools sharing responsibilities to ensure every aspect of the championships was delivered successfully.

Beyond medals and trophies, the championships provided learners with an opportunity to test themselves against the country’s best young athletes while building friendships and strengthening relationships among ISASA member schools.

The event further reflected the continued growth of athletics within Eswatini’s independent school sector, with increasing participation resulting in larger and more competitive interschool competitions each year.

Teachers and officials noted that the expanding number of participating schools is helping to raise standards while exposing learners to high-level competition from an early age.

Parents and supporters who filled the venue applauded athletes throughout the day, creating an atmosphere that celebrated participation as much as victory. The spirit of sportsmanship remained evident from the opening events until the final relay races, with competitors congratulating one another despite the intense battle for team honours.

Thembelisha’s victory not only rewarded the hosts for their consistency across the championships but also capped a memorable edition of the competition that set a new benchmark for ISASA primary school athletics in Eswatini.