{"id":87103,"date":"2026-04-28T11:26:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T11:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/all-news\/eswatini-handball-teams-depart-for-zambia-ahead-of-ihf-clash"},"modified":"2026-04-28T11:26:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T11:26:00","slug":"eswatini-handball-teams-depart-for-zambia-ahead-of-ihf-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/all-news\/eswatini-handball-teams-depart-for-zambia-ahead-of-ihf-clash","title":{"rendered":"ESWATINI HANDBALL TEAMS DEPART FOR ZAMBIA AHEAD OF IHF CLASH"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600\"><strong>Africa-Press &#8211; Eswatini. <\/strong><\/span><b>Eswatini\u2019s Under 20 and Under 18 national handball teams departed today, April 27, 2026, for Zambia to compete in the International Handball Federation (IHF) competition, with their opening match scheduled for Tuesday against Mozambique at 1500hrs.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The teams were officially sent off during a ceremony at EOCGA Head Office in Lobamba Saturday April 25 , 2026 attended by stakeholders from the sporting fraternity, including leadership from the Eswatini Handball Association, schools sport representatives, and supporters, as the country rallied behind the young athletes embarking on the regional assignment.<\/p>\n<p>The tournament presents an opportunity for Eswatini\u2019s rising handball talent to test their skills on the international stage, while representing the nation with pride and determination against strong competition from across the region.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking during the send-off, national team coach Lee Mdakane expressed confidence in the squad, highlighting the importance of discipline, commitment, and belief. \u201cI always encourage the players that it is not only about talent, but also determination and commitment. As we go to Zambia, we are going there to win. I already believe we have what it takes to be champions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Assistant coach for the Under-18 side, Celinhlanhla Mavimbela also acknowledged the support received and emphasised the team\u2019s readiness to rise to the occasion.\u201cWe thank everyone for the support. Where we are going, we are going to stand out. The challenges we faced during training have prepared us, and now it is time to apply what we have learned,\u201d said Mavimbela.<\/p>\n<p>Delivering the keynote address, Madam President of the Eswatini Handball Association Delisile Manyatsi described the moment as one of national pride, urging the players to carry the hopes of the country with confidence and unity. \u201cToday is not just a farewell, but a proud moment as we send a team that carries the spirit of Eswatini. As you compete, remember you are ambassadors of this nation. Play with heart, unity, and resilience, and make the country proud,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Manyatsi further acknowledged the role of partners, including the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association and the Eswatini Sports Council, for their continued support in making the team\u2019s participation possible. She also commended parents, guardians, and the media for their unwavering contribution to the development of the sport.<\/p>\n<p>The teams head into the competition with renewed confidence following intensive preparations, with players determined to translate their training into strong performances on the court. The journey to Zambia marks a significant step in their development, offering exposure, experience, and an opportunity to elevate Eswatini\u2019s presence in regional handball.<\/p>\n<p>As the athletes prepare to take to the court, the nation\u2019s support remains firmly behind them, with hopes high that they will return having delivered commendable performances and positive results.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For More News And Analysis About <span style=\"color: #ff6600\">Eswatini<\/span> Follow <span style=\"color: #ff6600\">Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Africa-Press &#8211; Eswatini. Eswatini\u2019s Under 20 and Under 18 national handball teams departed today, April 27, 2026, for Zambia to compete in the International Handball Federation (IHF) competition, with their opening match scheduled for Tuesday against Mozambique at 1500hrs. The teams were officially sent off during a ceremony at EOCGA Head Office in Lobamba Saturday [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":87102,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,17],"tags":[249],"class_list":["post-87103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-sport","tag-eswatini"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.1 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>ESWATINI HANDBALL TEAMS DEPART FOR ZAMBIA AHEAD OF IHF CLASH - Eswatini<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/all-news\/eswatini-handball-teams-depart-for-zambia-ahead-of-ihf-clash\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"ESWATINI HANDBALL TEAMS DEPART FOR ZAMBIA AHEAD OF IHF CLASH\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Africa-Press &#8211; Eswatini. Eswatini\u2019s Under 20 and Under 18 national handball teams departed today, April 27, 2026, for Zambia to compete in the International Handball Federation (IHF) competition, with their opening match scheduled for Tuesday against Mozambique at 1500hrs. 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