▪️Mukelo will be doing his exams while Veliswa has sustained a knee injury
June 11, 2026
An eight-member Eswatini boxing squad is set to depart for Katima Mulilo, Namibia, on June 15 for the Zone 4 Championships.
The team faces a steep challenge, travelling without two key medal hopefuls: Mandela Cup female flyweight silver medallist Veliswa Magaya and featherweight standout Mukelo Dlamini, the first Eswatini boxer to win a fight in the IBA World Championships..
While the absence of both fighters leaves a notable void in the country’s lineup, the remaining eight boxers are confident of positive results in the Zone 4 Championships.
For Mukelo, the decision was made to prioritize his academic future as he will be sitting for his scheduled examinations at the Institute of Development Management (IDM) where he is studying for a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology. Meanwhile, Veliswa is sidelined due to a knee injury, forcing the flyweight to miss the highly anticipated regional tournament.
Mukelo is not amused missing the Zone 4 Championships because he was aiming to win his first ever gold medal.
“My apologies to our federation and my teammates for the inconvenience,
I requested a special exam from the school but they put it on the week of the Commonwealth Games,” Mukelo told boxersworld.co.ke
“So, the association decided that I should write now so that I can be able to attend the Commonwealth Games since I’ve been selected.”
Despite these high-profile setbacks, the remaining eight-member Eswatini delegation will proceed with the trip for this important event they will use as a build-up for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this year. The team will be captained by their longest-serving international Thabiso Dlamini, a silver medallist in the 2025 Zone 4 Championships in Mozambique.
The Secretary-General of Eswatini Boxing Association, Nkosinathi Dlamini, said the eight boxers and two coaches will jet out for Namibia on June 15 at 10:40 am aboard Airlink flight number 4Z124, arriving at the Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek, Namibia, at 12:50pm.
Efforts to contact the Secretary-General of the Namibian federation Petrus Kashango, on their arrangements have been unsuccessful as he’s not even responding to Whatsapp messages. Getting info on the Zone 4 Championships has therefore become as difficult as trying to squeeze water from a stone.
Here’s Eswatini’s 10-member team for the Zone 4 Championships.
1. Lindelwa Fakudze (female )– Under 70 kg
2. Lihle Sithole – Under 51 kg
3. Siboniso Vilakati – Under 54 kg
4. Qhawe Gamedze – Under 60 kg
5. Phelindaba Gamedze – Under 63.5 kg
6. Thabiso Dlamini – Under 67 kg
7. Sibonelo Ndzimandze – Under 71 kg
8. Tsepo Dlakudze 75 kg
Coaches
1. Mbingo Mpendulo Coach
2. Zikalala Douglas assistant coach
SG Office
Eswatini Boxing Association
