FIFA AND EFA EMPOWERS ESWATINI REFEREES

The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) in collaboration with the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) is currently empowering 31 Eswatini referees in readiness of the commencement of the 2024/25 football season. This empowerment is realized through the execution of the FIFA MA Refereeing Course that is taking place at the EFA Technical Centre in Lobamba.

When officially opening the course, the EFA President Peter Simelane applauded FIFA for the execution of this course. “Your assignment is very essential; as you have come to empower our football referees with essential skills, technically and physically, both aspects of which are central to the performance of referees in the game of football,” Simelane said.

“Supreme gratitude, therefore, is hereby expressed to FIFA, for this MA course. We know that FIFA has brought many great football development initiatives to the country, to which we will continue to thank FIFA,” Simelane said.

The EFA also assured the participants of the EFA’s commitment in developing the referees. “It is therefore our commitment, as a football association, to continue to solicit for such courses for our referees with FIFA; so that they can be continually upgraded to deal with the big task of managing the playing of football matches,” Simelane said.

FIFA Instructor Carlos Henriques encouraged the participants to work extra hard for the country to produce referees who will officiate in international competition. “I urge the referees to work extra hard in order for the country to produce referees who will officiate at international competitions like the FIFA World Cup and TotalEnergies AFCON Finals”, Henrique said. Carlos Henrique will specialise on technical aspects while Mark Mzengo on the physical fitness aspect.