Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Maxwell Jele, yesterday briefed members of the media at the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) offices, announcing E170,000 in funding support for the Basketball Association of Eswatini (BASE).
The financial assistance will facilitate a Level 1 Coaching Course aimed at empowering 15 local basketball coaches with advanced technical and tactical training skills. The programme will be conducted under the guidance of Cameroonian-American coach and expert Lazare Adingono, whose extensive coaching background promises to bring high-level insight to Eswatini’s basketball scene.
Present during the briefing were BASE President Clement Dlamini and Vice President Phumelele Motsa, who both expressed appreciation to EOCGA for its continued support and confidence in growing basketball in the country.
In his remarks, CEO Mr. Jele commended BASE for its efforts at grassroots level, emphasising the importance of aligning local development with international competitive goals. He also issued a mandate: BASE must ensure that Eswatini fields a basketball team to participate in the 2026 AUSC Region 5 Youth Games, to be held in Maputo, Mozambique. This challenge reflects EOCGA’s aspiration for Eswatini to move beyond national competition and make its presence felt regionally.
“EOCGA remains committed to supporting our National Federations in building strong technical foundations and expanding athlete pathways,” Jele said. “Basketball has great potential to thrive, and with this support, we expect to see visible progress not only in coaching capacity but also in player development and national representation.”
Speaking on behalf of BASE, President Clement Dlamini expressed deep gratitude for the support, noting that this funding will have a lasting impact on basketball development across Eswatini.
“We sincerely appreciate EOCGA for believing in our vision and for providing this crucial support,” he said. “This programme will help us equip local coaches with the right knowledge and modern techniques to elevate the standard of basketball in Eswatini. We are fully committed to ensuring that our efforts translate into competitive participation, starting with the Region 5 Youth Games next year.”
The Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association continues to reaffirm its mandate to assist National Federations in developing sustainable programmes that promote excellence, inclusivity, and long-term growth in sport. Through targeted funding, technical support, and capacity-building initiatives, EOCGA remains dedicated to strengthening the country’s sporting landscape and empowering federations to reach new heights.