Former South African Presidend Dr. Nelson Mandela once said “Education has the power to change the world”. This words are in line with what the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) is doing in as far as empowering the team medics of the National Teams, MTN Premier League, and MTN National First Division teams is concerned. The implementation of the Medical Workshop is part of the preparations of the upcoming football season (2023/2024).
The EFA is executing a Medical Workshop at the Thokoza Church Centre where the FIFA, CAF, COSAFA and SAFA Medical Doctor, Dr. Thulani Ngwenya is empowering the participants of this workshop about sports medicine related content on football perspective. He is an expert in this field as he is a qualified doctor that has worked in numerous global football events. He has worked in FIFA World Cups, Total Energies AFCON Finals, and COSAFA Tournaments.
When officially opening this workshop, the General Secretary of the EFA, Mr. Frederick Mngomezulu acknowledged Dr. Thulani Ngwenya for honouring this invitation and stressed the importance of the medical aspect in the development of football. “On behalf of the EFA, we would like to thank you Dr. Ngwenya for being here as the medical aspect plays a vital role in influencing the laws of the game. This is an important area as the medical aspect is also vital in as far as football development is concerned”, Mngomezulu said. He also emphasized on the importance of taking good care of the players. “Players become human beings before they become athletes, thus the significance of taking good care of them”, Mngomezulu said. As an effort to raise the bar in as far as the medical aspect of Eswatini football, the EFA is working on the implementation of a more functional medical system. “We need to introduce certain minimum standards even at the lower leagues”, Mngomezulu said.
Dr. Ngwenya expressed his excitement and appreciation on what EFA is doing in as far as the medical aspect of football is concerned. “I am happy to be here and what the EFA is doing is the right thing for the betterment of football as the conditioning of the players is very important”, Ngwenya said.
The Chairperson of the EFA Medical Committee Mr. Welcome Motsa thanked EFA for the realization of this workshop. “We thank the EFA for the implementation of this workshop as it will help in preparing us for the upcoming football season”, Motsa said.