Sports Minister Bongani Nzima says Eswatini must professionalise sport through education, pathways and qualified administrators, following an MoU.

Reading Time: 2 minutes ATHLETICS – MINISTER of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima has warned sports administrators, coaches and athletes that they must shape up or risk being left behind as government intensifies efforts to professionalise sport in the country.. Nzima made the remarks during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Development Management (IDM) and the Eswatini National Sports and Recreational Council (ENSRC) in Mbabane yesterday.. The

agreement will see the two institutions collaborate in areas such as sports education, curriculum development, research, capacity building, student experiential learning, sports infrastructure development and athlete support programmes.. One of the major highlights of the partnership was IDM’s announcement of two scholarships for high-performing athletes under the Sports Council.. Speaking during the ceremony, Nzima said government’s Programme of Action demanded the professionalisation of sport through proper education, structured athlete pathways and qualified sports administrators.. He

said the country could no longer depend solely on passion and experience if it hoped to compete effectively at regional and international level.. “For too long, people running sport have had to rely on experience without formal qualifications or professional certification.. That era must come to an end,” said Nzima.. He described IDM’s introduction of a Diploma in Sports Management as a historic development, saying it was the first qualification of its kind in the

country.. Nzima said the programme would help produce qualified coaches, administrators and sports managers capable of improving standards across the sporting sector.. “This partnership is not just about signing documents.. It is about building institutions, empowering athletes and creating a professional sporting environment,” he added.. The minister also pledged government’s support towards mobilising resources for sports infrastructure to ensure the success of IDM’s Sports Management and Physical Education programmes.. IDM Country Director Karabo Baipidi said

the institution was undergoing a strategic transformation aimed at positioning itself as Eswatini’s leading institution for management and professional development.. Baipidi revealed that IDM was developing qualifications in Sports Management and Physical Education to address critical gaps within the country’s sporting sector.. He said the institution planned to introduce Sports Science programmes in future as part of its long-term vision.. “Our goal is to produce the next generation of professional sports administrators, coaches and managers

that the country urgently needs,” said Baipidi.. He explained that the MoU would also focus on curriculum development informed by industry needs, professional training for sports administrators and coaches, volunteer opportunities for students during national sporting events and the development of shared sports facilities.. Baipidi said the IDM Board deliberately approved two scholarships for elite athletes because athletes deserve educational opportunities and sustainable careers beyond active competition.. “We believe athletes deserve more than medals.. They

deserve education, professional qualifications and career pathways that will support them long after their playing careers,” he said.. Meanwhile, Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) CEO Maxwell Jele described the partnership as a significant milestone for local sport.. He said the collaboration would help close critical gaps in athlete preparation and development.. “This partnership brings together pieces of the puzzle that have been missing in athlete development,” he said.. He added that the initiative

could strengthen the country’s ambition of winning its first Olympic medal within the next 12 years by ensuring athletes received both academic and professional preparation.

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