‘Swazi Bolt,’ Phumlile shine at National Champs

20 May 2019

The country’s elite athletes Sibusiso ‘Swazi Bolt’ Matsenjwa and Phumlile Ndzinisa shone during the Eswatini Senior National Track and Field Championships held at Mavuso Sports Centre this past weekend.

Matsenjwa won a highly contested 100 metres race, clocking 10.49 seconds to clinch the Gold medal while Ndzinisa clocked 24.75 seconds on her way to winning the 200 metres race. The Championships saw athletes from Southern African countries like South Africa and Mozambique participating.

In the overall medal standings, the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) took first spot after collecting 25 medals, nine of those gold and another nine silver. They were followed by the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) which took home 11 medals in total. The top three was rounded up by Mozambique, taking home five medals.

Making his remarks after day 1 of the Championships, the Honourable Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries Bulunga praised the Athletics Association of Eswatini for a well organised event.

“I am very excited to have witnessed this first day and to have seen the high levels of competition among the athletes as well as the overall organisation of the Championships. It is indeed exciting to see Eswatini sport on the up and I congratulate all those who have done well. To those who didn’t get to the podium today, I would like to encourage them to go back and work even harder because we see that you have the potential,” Bulunga said.

Also present during day 1 of the Championships were the Secretary to Cabinet Mbuso Dlamini as well as Under Secretary in the Ministry of Sports Nhlanhla Motsa.