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MBABANE – Confederation of African Athletics Technical Delegate Pieter De Jager inspected Coronation Park as Eswatini prepares to host the 2027 African Cross Country Championships.
This comes as Mbabane Municipal Council Mayor Thulani Mkhonto expressed the city’s readiness to host 54 African nations during the venue assessment for the continental athletics spectacle.
The Ward 5 Councillor welcomed De Jager, who was accompanied by Athletics Eswatini (AE) President Zakhele Dlamini, Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chairperson Fisiwe Vilane and members of the LOC.
“This is a 16-hectare park, and the city is fully capable of hosting major events, such as the Mbabane Marathon scheduled for November 21. The park also hosts Mbabane Day, another important event for our capital,” Mkhonto said.
He further affirmed that the city is well prepared to host the African Cross Country Championships and extend a warm welcome to the competing African nations.
Dlamini stated that De Jager was dispatched by the CAA to evaluate potential venues for the championships.
“Tomorrow he will inspect Mhlambanyatsi, after which he will recommend the ideal venue to host the continent,” Dlamini explained.
He noted that the CAA official is a World Athletics-accredited route measurer, adding that the rigorous venue inspections are crucial as results from the championships will serve as qualifiers for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships.
De Jager echoed Dlamini’s sentiments, confirming his objective is to assess the proposed sites and advise the LOC on the most suitable venue for the event.
Meanwhile, cross country running is an off-road distance discipline where athletes race across natural terrain such as open countryside, woodland trails, and grass parks. The tournament was last hosted in Hammamet, Tunisia, in February 2024.