MANZINI: The sports community is turning to prayer in the hope of lifting a dark distressing cloud they feel is haunting them.
A motorist ran down and killed a jogger. Soon after, a hit-and-run driver killed sports cyclist near Matsapha. As soon of the new premier soccer league season opened, there was a rash of serious injuries. A Mbabane Highlanders soccer player, Mega is now blind following a game injury six weeks ago. He is now at the Mbabane Government Hospital. Scans on his head have not revealed what the cause of the problem could be. Soon after, a Mbabane Swallows player was seriously injured in a career ending accident near Buhleni in the Northern Hhohho.
All this is too much for the sports fraternity that last Sunday convened at the Mfanyana Hall in Manzini for a prayer service, in the words of Menzi “Madlakadlaka” Dlamini, “to curse the demon that is disturbing the country’s sports”.
“Players are getting badly injured. Right now we have a player who is currently blind. This is very unfamiliar to us,” says Dladla. “This is a strange phenomenon that we have never experienced. That is why we resolved to seek prayer warriors to intercede on our behalf.”
The call to prayer received strong support from sports lovers who convenned in Manzini. “We really appreciate the spirit of sports followers who turned up in great numbers for the prayer service. The collection from that service was divided into 3 and shared with Mbabane Swallows whose player is also currently in Hospital and with Mbabane Highlanders. We have asked the teams to present our heartfelt sympathies to the families of the players together with the contributions of soccer fans.
The third portion of the money was contributed to a Young Buffaloes player, Space who was disabled in an earlier episode and is now confined to a wheelchair.
The next prayer session is planned for the beginning of the second round, and it is hoped, at the begining of each League season.
Dladla who is also a leading champion supporter of the national team, Sihlangu is a consistent mobilizer for the national team, especially when it plays away.
“When we went to play Mozambique’s Os Mambas in Maputo, barely 100 fans were present at the stadium. But after Sohlangu scored their 80th minute equalizer, our supporters erupted in such joy that even the Mozambicans joined in our jubilation. That game ended 1-1.
“We were very pleased to bring home at least a draw.”
Sihlangu, now one point strong, then went for their second leg meeting with Os Mambas at Nelspruit’s Mbombela stadium where they were humbled 3-0. “Things certainly did not go well at Mbombela,” he moaned.
The national team will now soldier on to meet with Zimbabwe in Francistown, Botswana on the 27th October and in Port Elizabeth, South Africa for the second leg on 2 November.
Jm/today/18.10. 2024
