MBABANE – The countdown is over and the biggest night of sports in the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region V is on the spotlight.
Eswatini is abuzz with excitement as two of its young and talented athletes are set to compete in the prestigious Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA). The country is a proud host and also home to two of the most promising athletes in the region: Hayley Hoy and Sihlelelwe Matsebula. The duo have dazzled the region with stellar performances in swimming and taekwondo, and are now ready to glitter on the biggest stage of their careers.
They have been both crowned the country’s 2022 Junior Sportsman and Woman, and have made a cut to the last 30 nominees from eight regional countries. Hoy, 14, is the swimming prodigy who has made waves in the pool. She boast seven medals from the 2022 CANA Zone VI Championships. She is nominated for the Junior Sportswoman of the Year award, along with Jade Phiri from Zambia in swimming and Namibia’s Christine Mboma in athletics.
Meanwhile, Matsebula is a taekwondo sensation, who has dazzled Region V with his moves and medals last year. He will face two rivals from Malawi; Sean Joseph, a boxer, and William Chinzewe, a draught wizard from Zambia. The awards will be given in 10 categories plus two bonus awards for the outstanding country and federation. The event will showcase the best of sports talent from eight countries in the region in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Eswatini.
Surely, the nation will be waiting with bated breath for the two youngsters, hoping that they bring home the RASA trophies from the glittering ceremony that will take place at Esibayeni Lodge in Matsapha at 6pm.
