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LETâ€™S PROFESSIONALISE SPORTS â€“ â€˜MADZEâ€™

By Sibusiso Masilela | 2018-11-13

SPORTS - MINISTER of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga says the country needs to professionalise sports.

Bulunga said professionalising sports could help market the country internationally and further improve the economy through the revenues which could be generated through the transformation of the different sporting codes.

The minister was speaking during his official introduction before the ministry’s staff members yesterday morning at the Mbabane House.

Improve

“We need to professionalise sports in the country so that we can succeed in the different sporting codes by reaching podium performance at international level.

“Sports can also market the country globally which is something that that has been done by countries such as Croatia, now known as a footballing nation, following their good run during FIFA World Cup.

“Professionalising sports can further attract business people, who can eventually join hands and sponsor sports after seeing commitment from the different associations,” he said.

The minister urged local companies to support sports.

“We need the support from local companies if we are to professionalise sports. I say this because companies play a major role in the development of sports in the country. It can be good to have more companies sponsoring teams part of the different sporting codes.”

Bulunga then appealed for unity from all staff members of the ministry and further urged everyone to work towards improving the country.

Policies

“We are all equal within our different stations and we also need to be united all the time by displaying teamwork when executing our duties.

“We further need to implement the policies which are under the ministry. This can make our ministry become one of the best performing government ministries,” he said.

He said he was ready to serve and work for the country.

Meanwhile, the Ministry’s Principal Secretary Prince Mlayeto said they were happy to have Bulunga as their new minister when making his brief remarks.

“We are grateful to have you in the ministry where we have three main departments in sports, culture and youth affairs. We are confident we will work together and also tackle several key issues such youth empowerment which is a very important issue in the country,” he said.

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