The Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) announced that three upcoming international youth competitions would be instrumental in preparing the country for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. This was revealed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maxwell Jele during a press briefing held on Friday, where the association also unveiled the appointed chefs de mission for each event.
The selected events include the Region V Youth Games, the African Schools Games, and the ANOCA Youth Games. Jele disclosed that the government had committed E2.3 million towards Eswatini’s preparations for the Region V Games, while EOCGA contributed an additional E600,000, bringing the total budget to E2.9 million.
Victor ‘Mavikane’ Dlamini was named as the head of Team Eswatini for the 2025 Region V Youth Games, set to take place in Namibia in July. He would be supported by Zama Tsabedze, the Business Development Manager at the Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council, who was appointed as the team manager. Notably, Eswatini had, for the first time, assembled a large contingent of 101 athletes for the event.
In other appointments, EOCGA confirmed that Ntombikayise Masango, a female board member and President of the Eswatini National Netball Association (ENNA), would lead Team Eswatini at the inaugural Africa Schools Games to be held in Algeria in August.
Thobile Magagula, President of the Eswatini Judo Federation (EJF), was named as the head of the national mixed team for the 2025 ANOCA Youth Games scheduled for December in Angola.
Furthermore, the EOCGA also announced the formation of a four-member organising committee tasked with coordinating preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games Baton Relay tour in Eswatini. The committee would be chaired by EOCGA Vice President Zakhele Dlamini and include board members Victor ‘Mavikane’ Dlamini, Thobile Magagula, and CEO Maxwell Jele.
Jele stated that the Baton Relay would take place from August 14 to 19, 2026, and would be managed by the local organising committee. He added that further logistical details would be announced in due course.