Eswatini Football Association
P. O Box 641 , Mbabane, Eswatini, Sigwaca House H100
nfas news (431)
The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) has hired Domenic Kunene as the new Senior Men’s National Team’s (Sihlangu’s) Head Coach. This post was vacant after the departure of Kostadin Papaic who was the national team’s gaffer as from January to December 2019. Kunene is the Head Coach of Young Buffaloes and he is the former U20 Men’s National Team’s Head Coach. This news were confirmed by the EFA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngomezulu. “During the recently held EFA retreat, one of the Agenda items was about the Sihlangu issues of which included the hiring of the new Coach. The Executive Committee Members decided to hire Mr. Dominic Kunene who is the current Young Buffaloes FC Head Coach and former U20 Men’s National Team Head Coach”, said Mngomezulu. Kunene has also appointed his technical team and they are Moneni Pirates FC Head Coach and former U17 Men’s National Team’s Head Coach Gcina Dlamini as his Assistant Coach, Manzini Sea Birds FC and former Senior Women National Team’s Head Coach Anthony Mdluli, and finally Green Mamba FC’s Physical Fitness Coach Mbuso Gina.
It is every player’s dream to play football in the highest leagues in Europe. If that is the case, there are a lot of benefits for that particular player and his/her country of origin. These include social and economic benefits just to mention but a few.
The Eswatini Football Association’s (EFA’s) core mandate is the development of football in the country. This mandate is implemented through the various football development programmes under the auspice of the EFA. One of the ultimate goals for this mandate is the development of quality players that will perform very well for the national team. The EFA has realised that most national team players from other countries are plying their trade in Europe thus their development is of a higher quality compared to our players thus the EFA is in full support of the Eswatini Open Football Trials Programme that will be implemented by the Professional Soccer Management.
“The mandate is to see the national team performing very well and the EFA has realised that other countries are achieving that because their players are plying their trade in Europe which exposes them to more professional set-ups and it comes with a lot of benefits”; said the General Secretary (GS) of the EFA, Frederick Mngomezulu. The GS also highlighted that this opportunity will expose the Eswatini players to an environment with a high level of professionalism which will enhance their performance. “These players will be exposed to an environment that has a high level of professionalism which will enhance their performance”; said Mngomezulu.
He also assured the public that the safety of the players that will make the grade to go to Europe is well guaranteed as they will leave the country as per the rules and regulations that are applied in the transfer of players as per FIFA Statutes. “The players who will make the grade, will leave the country as per the rules and regulations that are in the FIFA Statutes and the laws of the country” the GS stated. These trials will commence as from the 20th and ends on the 30th of January 2020
The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has appointed a total of twelve (12) Eswatini Referees and Assistant Referees for both Men and Women into the 2020 FIFA List of Referees and Assistant Referees. The referees are Viana Letticia, Soko Tencwala Rebeccah, Nxumalo Siphiwayinkhosi Cosma, Mkhaliphi Buyisile Patricia, Sibandze Thulani Sabelo Dlamini Njabulo Thembinkosi, Dlamini Thokozani, Siphepho Celumusa, Simelane Zamani Thula, Nxumalo Sifiso Bingo, Mbingo Petros and Magagula Thembinkosi Ndumiso.
“ As opposed to the previous couple of years approval of 2 Referees in the male category, the 2020 appointments reflect a growth and 4 Referees have been appointed, which will now make it possible for an appointment of 2 sets of referees from Eswatini to officiate in international matches”, as per statement. This is a historical and significant growth in refereeing for the country, which has in the current period been one of the strategic objectives of the EFA to increase our referees officiating internationally.
In a similar wavelength, the appointments also see the appointment of a full set of women referees for the first time in the appointment of 2 women referees and 2 assistant women referees, which signifies a steady growth in women refereeing.
Over and above the EFA expressed her congratulatory note to these referees; with the growth being a motivation to the rest of the referees and aspiring referees. “The onus now remains with these appointed Referees and Assistant Referees to work hard and perform well internationally to fortify this growth for the country”, read the statement.
As per Circular No.133; the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) will on Friday, 13th December 2019 close for the festive period and re-open for the rest of the 2019/2020 football season on Monday, 6th January 2020. It is for this reason that the EFA encourages its members and stakeholders to guarantee all matters obliging the approachability of the national office to have been done by the 13th December 2019.
“The EFA at this period of the year exclusive appreciate for the collaboration and good rapport to the Members and stakeholders since the start of the 2019 calendar year and the 2019/2020 football season and trusts that such good collaborative spirit will in the second half of the 2019/2020 season and the imminent 2020 calendar year, which is essential for the continual maturity of the game”, read the statement.
The EFA and football family further wishes His Majesty King Mswati III; Her Majesty The Indlovukazi; the Royal Household; Head of Government and Government; Football Family and Sporting Family in general and Stakeholders applicable a safe and successful Incwala Ceremony; festive season with extended wishes for a Merry Christmas and affluence in 2020.
The EFA kindly remind her members that the second window registration period shall commence on Monday, 6th January 2020 and close on Friday, 31st January 2020. Clubs are urged to take note of this period as there won’t be any extension unless on account of exceptional circumstances. "The Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players are promulgated by FIFA regulates that no extension and/or alterations to this period shall be allowed and therefore, in this view, that all registration must be achieved within stipulated time limits”, said part of the statement.
The U20 Men’s National Team Head Coach, Mr. Dominic Kunene is very proud of his players. “Mozambique gave us a tough game and we knew it was not going to be an easy one. I am very proud of my players”, Kunene said. He made his remarks during the post-match press conference after the match against Mozambique at the Sunset Stadium, in Zambia.
Kunene also highlighted that players created so many chances and they managed to defend the goals. “Our plan for this match was to protect our goal post and wait for our opponent to create some spaces at the back and utilize those spaces”, he said. He further stated that for the next match they need to focus, work extra hard and work on players mentally. “This is Eswatini chance to show the rest of the world what they can do and make our nation proud”, he added.
The U20 Men’s National Team has won their first match against Mozambique by 2-0. Eswatini goals were scored by Lindokuhle Zwane 65th minutes and Majahesibili Ndlovu 92nd Minutes. The best player of the match was Wenzile Lushaba. Eswatini will play their 2nd match against Seychelles on Sunday, 8th December 2019 at Sunset Stadium, in Zambia. Kick-off is at 12:45 pm.
The Eswatini Football Association’s (EFA’s) President Mr. Adam Mthethwa has urged the coaches to support each other in order for them to assist in developing football in the country. He made his remarks during the farewell ceremony for the U20 Men’s National Team to Zambia on Tuesday, 3rd December 2019 at the Technical Centre, in Lobamba. “I urge you coaches to support each other for you to assist in developing football in the country”, Mthethwa said.
Mthethwa also highlighted that as football association they try all their best to make the nation participate in all the categories because they believe that it is the only way they can rank football development in the country. “Despite that people are criticizing football, we need to make our own history”, he said. He further stated that players are very much special as they are playing for the national team and urged them to work hard towards getting good results.
Over and above, Mthethwa wished the National Team a safe journey to Zambia. “On behalf of the football association, we wish you a safe journey. Go there and make your own history by coming back home with gold”, he added.
The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) in reaction to a publication carried by Eswatini Observer, of the 2nd December 2019; back page with the heading, “Magiyane Tipped for Sihlangu”, would like to advance a clarification as follows:
- The football association has been taken by shock to learn that it has written a letter to Moneni Pirates Football Club on a purported request for the services of their head coach, Mr. Gcina Dlamini.
- The football association would like to disassociate itself from this purported written letter to Moneni Pirates FC. The association would like to point out that no such letter exists nor any approach to Moneni Pirates FC nor any other football club or particular coach regarding the position of head coach of Sihlangu, that will become vacant as from the 1st January 2019 (as the current coach’s contract run up to the 31st December 2019).
- In actual fact, at the meeting where the decision was made, there was no mention of a name of a coach nor an attempt to hire a coach for the national team, as a meeting to discuss the national team, including the engagement of a coach will be convened at a later date, where all details regarding the recruitment process will be discussed; after which invitations to interested coaches locally and internationally will be done. To clarify, the EFA issued a Press release, sent to media houses on Friday, 29th November 2019, stating that the EFA in view of its incapacity to meet the demands of the current head coach, Mr. Kostadin Papic, will not renew his contract when it expires on the 31st December 2019. The same press publication stated that the football association will at a later stage make some pronouncements on the future of the national team.
- The official position therefore is that; Mr.Gcina Dlamini is the Head Coach of Moneni Pirates FC and Head Coach of the U17 National Men’s Team.
- In this regard; the football association would like to express its apology to Moneni Pirates FC and the coach in question, that might have been equally shocked or any other party that might have been negatively affected by the publication.
The U20 Men’s National Team Captain, Meshack Lushaba has highlighted that the spirit is very high in the camp and players are available to fight for the nation. “Players are available and ready to fight for the nation in this championship”, Lushaba said. He made his remarks during the media day at Somhlolo National Stadium, in preparation for the upcoming 2019 COSAFA U20 Men’s Championship to be played in Lusaka, Zambia starting from 4th -14th December 2019. Lushaba also highlighted that they are not afraid to compete international. “We have to work hard and try our best to reach finals. We are prepared and we will come back home with the cup”, he said.
The captain’s words were echoed by Lizwe Zwane who showed confidence ahead of the upcoming championship in Lusaka, Zambia. He highlighted that they are ready to go and fight for the nation. “We have experience and we will put more effort to other players. We have support from our coaches”, Zwane said. Over and above, he promised the nation that they will come back home with the cup.
The U20 Men’s National Team Head Coach. Dominic Kunene has highlighted that they have to make history by winning this championship. “History is made by people. We have to make history and make our nation proud”, Kunene said. He also highlighted that preparations are good and spirit in camp is very high. “Players are soldiers training for a war and they understand that they have to fight for the nation”, he said,
Kunene also stated that players are trained physical and they expect good performance from players. “Our opponents are very aggressive when playing football. We have to be ready for every situation and our players need physical tactics for them to make good results”, he said. He also highlighted that their plan is not to concede goals. He further acknowledged Eswatini Football Association for the support that they are giving them.
EFA on Facebook
Upcoming Events
| No events |