EFA EXPANDS NATIONAWIDE SAFETY, SECURITY AND SAFEGUARDING PROGRAMME TO MANZINI

The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) has continued its nationwide Safety, Security and Safeguarding Capacity Building Programme with a two-day workshop for the Manzini Regional Football Association (MRFA).

Hosted at Caritas in Manzini from 22–23 June 2026, the workshop brought together 39 Club Safety and Security Officers from the MRFA Super League, representatives from the region’s zonal leagues, officials responsible for Premier League matches hosted within the region, as well as representatives from the Royal Eswatini Police Service. The workshop forms part of EFA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen safety, security and safeguarding standards across all four Regional Football Associations in the country.

MRFA Chairman, Mr. Vusi Hall, expressed his appreciation to the EFA for initiating the programme and equipping football safety and security personnel with the necessary knowledge and skills. He noted that football had recently experienced a number of challenges that threatened to tarnish the image of the beautiful game, making such training programmes both relevant and necessary.

“Football is meant to unite people, create friendships and provide a safe environment for all stakeholders; thus, the significance of making the environment to be safe”, Hall said. He stated that initiatives such as this workshop would help restore and preserve the greatness of the sport while ensuring that football remains safe and enjoyable for everyone involved.

He further encouraged participants to actively engage in the training and apply the knowledge gained within their respective clubs and leagues upon completion of the workshop. The Chairman also urged attendees to continue sharing the knowledge with others, even if they later move to different clubs or leagues.

Highlighting the opportunities that arise from such programmes, Mr. Hall noted that Safety and Security Officers for national team matches, inter-club competitions and other high-level football events are often identified through training initiatives of this nature. “Some officials may even progress to serve at Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions across the continent”, Hall said.

The training combined both theoretical and practical learning experiences, equipping participants with the skills required to effectively manage safety and security operations at football matches and events.

The EFA General Secretary, Mr. Frederick Mngomezulu, congratulated participants for successfully completing the programme and wished them well as they execute their duties within football. He echoed the Chairman’s sentiments regarding the opportunities created through training programmes, emphasizing that workshops and certifications often serve as stepping stones to greater opportunities within football administration and event management.

“Continue learning and developing professionally, as continuous education remains key to personal and professional growth”, Mngomezulu said. He further reaffirmed EFA’s commitment to ensuring that football remains safe for all stakeholders and explained that the workshop forms part of a nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening safety, security and safeguarding structures throughout football.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mr. Mbongeni Mthethwa expressed gratitude to the facilitators, Miss Tengentile Ndlandla and Mr. Lucky Dube, for sharing valuable knowledge and practical experiences throughout the workshop. He assured the facilitators that participants would apply the lessons learned within their respective clubs and leagues and work towards improving safety, security and safeguarding standards in football.

Mr. Mthethwa noted that the workshop had exposed participants to important information that many had never previously received. He admitted that some practices they had always believed were correct were, in fact, not aligned with the required standards. He further encouraged the EFA to expand future workshops to include additional football stakeholders, stating that the information shared was valuable and would benefit a much wider audience beyond Safety and Security Officers.