Eswatini Football Association
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The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) has launched the Technical Development Scheme (TDS)- Eswatini. This is a project by FIFA that is aimed at creating a sustainable legacy for long term development by maximising each FIFA Member Association’s (MA’s ) opportunities as per the global ecosystem analysis (ESA). The ESA was conducted for 18 months by FIFA and it came out with two findings which are; a clear view of the global imbalance that exists in football, and the great potential of the MA’s talent development programme to tackle this imbalance. As highlighted by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the 71st FIFA Congress in May 2021, the TDS will offer a tailor-made concept for each country on how best to operate to give every talent a chance.
During the launch event that took place at the EFA’s Technical Centre in Lobamba, FIFA was represented by Serame Letsoaka who is the FIFA Technical Consultant. Also present during this event were the EFA Executive Committee Members and some Executive Committee Members from the EFA Membership to mention but a few. When making his address during this launch, Serame Letsoaka highlighted the importance of implementing football development programmes at grassroots level. “If the foundation is strong enough, everything takes care of itself, because everybody wants to sponsor a good product”, Letsoaka said.
Speaking of behalf of the EFA President was the Lubombo Regional Football Association Chairperson who is also an Executive Committee Member of the EFA, Nichodemus Mashwama who acknowledged the support by FIFA towards football development in the country and for making it possible that this programme is implemented in the country. “As EFA, we would like to acknowledge FIFA for her support towards football development in the country and for the implementation of the TDS in the country. We assure FIFA that this project will be perfectly executed in the country”, Mashwama said.
The TDS- Eswatini will be implemented in six EFA’s centres with the possibility of adding more. These centres are, Mkhuzweni, Lobamba, Manzini, Matsapha, KaLanga and Nhlangano and its theme is “Consolidating football talent”. The participants for this football development programme are U13, U15 and U17 boys and girls. This talent was identified from the other football development programmes that are implemented by the EFA.
Royal Leopard FC U13 team are the champions of the Build it U13 Matsapha Championship. This tournament was well executed at the Qinisweni Primary School on Saturday, 18th February 2023. A total of eight teams competed for the championship. The were two groups of four teams who initially played in a round-robin format then latter played in a knock-out format where the top two team in each log qualified for the semi-finals. The semi-finalists were Young Heroes FC, Junior Eagles FC, Royal leopard FC and Young Buffaloes FC.
In the semi-finals, Young Heroes FC won against Junior Eagles by 2-1 and Royal Leopard FC won against Young Buffaloes by 1-0. These results confirmed the finalist where Royal Leopard FC won against Young Heroes FC by 3-1. In the third-place play -off, Young Buffaloes FC won against Junior Eagles by 2-1.
Present during this championships were the EFA Executive Committee Members, Senior Management of Build it Matsapha and parents of the participating players to mention but a few. When reacting to the successful execution of this event, EFA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Frederick Mngomezulu thanked the sponsor for supporting this tournament and also thanked the parents for allowing their children to participate in this tournament. “We would like to thank the sponsor, parents and other stakeholders for their different roles towards the successful implementation of this tournament. We also congratulate the champions and the player of the tournament for their achievements”, Mngomezulu said.
Build it Matsapha Manager, Vincent Vilakati expressed the company’s excitement in as far as the implementation of this tournament was concerned. “We are happy to be part of this great initiative and we are certain that we will continue sponsoring the tournament in the upcoming years as this games produces future national team players and promotes the development of football in the country”, Vilakati said. Sindiswa Dube from Royal Leopard FC was the player of the tournament.
The Senior Men’s National Team (Sihlangu) has this Monday, 13th February 2023 commenced the preparations for the back-to-back matches against Cape Verde to be played during the upcoming FIFA International Window that will start from the 20th -28th March 2023. This is the first phase of preparations with the second phase to commence on the 13th March 2023. During this first phase, the national team will train twice a week being Mondays and Tuesdays before implementing the full-time camp which will mark the start of the second phase of the preparations which will end on the 18th March 2023 when the national team is scheduled to depart for Cape Verde. The Head Coach of the national team Dominic Kunene named 25 players to be part of this initial training camp. The players are as follows:
GoalKeepers
Sibusiso Dlamini (Nsingizini Hotspurs FC), Mlamuli Makhanya (Royal Leopard FC), Mlungisi
Nxumalo (Young Buffaloes FC), Bhekisisa Dlamini (Moneni Pirates FC)
Defenders
Simanga Masangane (Royal Leopards FC), Sihlangu Mkhwanazi (Young Buffaloes FC), Vusi
Vilakati (Mbabane Highlanders FC), Gift Gamedze (Madlenya FC), Lucky Gamedze
(Madlenya FC), Mcolisi Manana (Green Mamba FC), Mlamuli Msibi (Royal Leopard (FC),
Mkhuleko Magagula (Manzini Sea Birds FC)
Midfielders
Mzwandile Mabelesa (Royal Leopard FC), Sifiso Matse (Royal Leopard FC), Kwakhe Tfwala
(Young Buffaloes FC), Bongiswa Dlamini (Young Buffaloes FC), Sandile Gamedze (Young
Buffaloes FC), Leon Manyisa (Mbabane Swallows FC), Mpendulo Tfomo (Mbabane
Highlanders FC)
Strikers
Sabelo Ndzinisa (Green Mamba FC), Thubelihle Mavuso (Nsingizini Hotspurs FC), Bongwa
Matsebula (Young Buffaloes FC), Fanelo Mamba (Young Buffaloes FC), Philani Mkhontfo
(Mbabane Highlanders FC), Njabulo Maziya (Madlenya FC).
The Eswatini Football Association’s President Mr. Peter Simelane and General Secretary Mr. Frederick Mngomezulu attended the recently executed FIFA Forward 3.0 Programme in Paris, France. This workshop was held on the 7th -8th February 2023.
The main objective of this workshop was to review the FIFA Forward 3.0 Programme and to prepare the FIFA Forward 3.0 Programme. Part of the content on the agenda included the discussion of the framework required by FIFA, FIFA Department Projects, and child protection and the deployment of FIFA Safeguarding Toolkit. Other topics included internal accountability, FIFA audits, MAs relationships with governments, financial governance and capacity development.
As part of the requirements for the MAs to be able to utilize the FIFA Forward 3.0, they must submit its new Contract of Agreed Objectives (CAO) on or before June 30, 2003 in order to apply for projects under the FIFA Forward 3.0 Programme.
On Saturday, 11th February 2023, Build it and Eswatini Football Association will execute the Build it Nhlangano U13 Football Development Programme at the King Sobhuza Stadium in Nhlangano. This event will commence with a walk from Build it Store at 0700hrs to the stadium where after 8 teams will be in action. A total of 8 teams will compete in a round robin format with the top 2 teams qualifying for the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals will proceed to the finals. The participating teams are; All Nations, Mahlandle FC, Ngwane FC, Liswayiswayi FC, Home Affairs FC, Hlathikulu Masters FC, Bhahwini FC and Holnek FC. The EFA Youth Coaches will be selecting the players who will be part of the Build it U13 Nhlangano Pick Team.
The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) has condemned the recent violence during the implementation of football matches. In a press statement sent to the media houses on Tuesday, 20th December 2022, the EFA stated that the observed emergences of scenes of violence in some of the football matches of the premier league critically threatens the game’s universally envisaged accuracy of the image, its economic viability and most assertively, the safety and security of the stakeholders and consumers of the football product.
“At the very outset, Eswatini Football Association expresses its regret on the unfortunate scene of violence observed in some selected matches and in this regard would like to express a note of empathy and sympathy with all those that have been affected in various ways during and in the aftermath”, read the statement.
Meeting
As an effort to quickly curb this unwanted emergence, a critical meeting for the relevant stakeholders in the organisation and implementation of the matches including match officiation was implemented on Tuesday afternoon. During this meeting, all the critical stakeholders were reminded of their core responsibilities, the conduct and expected performances in the execution of matches to the satisfaction of organizers, the participants, the sponsors and the fans, albeit imperfectly. “It has been agreed that all the applicable stakeholders have to do due diligence as they implement their responsibilities and that relevant structures present to assure the appropriate performance of all capacitation where possible”, read the statement.
Assurance
The EFA assures her stakeholders and the general public of her commitment to address the root cause of the observed unfortunate incidences in order to assure the confidence and reliability of the game as a unifier and core necessity in the livelihood of not only the football fraternity but the entire populace as envisaged by its international governing bodies and proponents.
Responsibility
The EFA and her member associations and associate stakeholders have the primary responsibility of preservation of the good stead, the game of football has placed itself in the centrality of the livelihood of humanity universally. In order to achieve this, there must be appropriate implementation of the matches of the game of football in a manner that upholds the universally envisage truthfulness of the image of the game, its respect, its popularity and the innumerable benefits inherent.
On Saturday, 10th December 2022, the Build it Plus Mbabane U13 Football Development Programme was successfully executed at the Prince of Wales. At total of eight (8) football teams participated on the day. These teams were Mbabane Swallows FC, Tiki-Taka FC, Mighty Birds FC, Lobamba Cosmos FC, Dark City FC, Golden Kings FC, Majotini United FC and Mdzimba Arsenal FC.
The matches were implemented in a round-robin format with two (2) groups in place. The top 2 teams per group qualified for the semi-finals. Group A winners was Lobamba Cosmos FC and Mbabane Swallows fished in the second position. On top of the log in Group B was Dark City FC followed by Mdzimba Arsenal FC. In the semi-finals, Mdzimba Arsenal won against Lobamba Cosmos by a solitary goal and advanced to the finals where they played against Dark City who had won against Mbabane Swallows FC by 4-0.
Then came the finals where Mdzimba Arsenal FC played against Dark City FC where the match ended in a barren draw. The match went straight to penalties where Dark City FC won by 4-2 and became the Build it Plus U13 Mbabane Champions. Mbabane Swallows FC finished in third in the overall championship after the won by 2-1.
Awards
For their effort, Dark City FC won themselves a Build it branded football kit, sports bags, soccer ball and gold medals. Mdzimba Arsenal got Build it branded string bags, soccer ball and silver medals. Mbabane Swallows FC won a soccer ball and bronze medals. The were also individual prizes where the top five (5) performing players were selected by the Eswatini Football Association’s (EFA’s) youth coaches and for their efforts they will get stationary kit for the next academic year plus soccer boots. These players are Khayalethu Ngwenya (Lobamba Cosmos FC), Sibahle Dlamini Mbabane Swallows FC), Sandziso Shongwe (Mdzimba Arsenal FC) and Akhile Kunene (Dark City FC). The player of the tournament was Akhile Kunene who also won a trophy and a pair of soccer boots for this award.
Since 2006, the Build it brand has been a true friend to Eswatini football by investing towards the development of the beautiful game in the country. Yearly this football development programme has provided a perfect platform for the development of Eswatini Child. After the two-year break due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative is back once again.
On Friday, 9th December 2022, the Build it Plus Mbabane U13 Championship was officially launched at the sponsor’s premises in Mbabane. Present during this occasion was Build it Operations Manager Mr Loekie van Niekerk, EFA’s Executive Member Mr. Sicelo Nene and U23 National Team Captain and Senior National Team player Kwakhe Thwala who is a product of this football development programme to mention but a few.
When making his remarks, Mr Loekie van Niekerk highlighted about the aim of this initiative. “Investing in areas where Build it trades, the programme is aimed at uplifting Southern African youngsters and giving them a chance to develop their talent in a sport which is considered to be the passion of the people”, Mr Loekie van Niekerk.said. He also expressed the sponsor’s appreciation for the fact that this initiative is used by EFA to identify players for the U13 National Team. “The EFA have over the past few years used the Build it festival as a platform to identify their national U13 football squad. “As a brand, we are honoured to be able to present this amazing opportunity to aspiring young football players from Eswatini”, Mr Loekie van Niekerk said.
On Sunday, 11th December 2022 the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) will hold a Strategic Plan Development Session to be hosted at the Sibane Hotel. This event will commence at 0900hrs (9:00 a.m.).
This follows the elapsing period of the previous four-year strategic plan of the EFA. The newly developed strategic plan will be applicable for the next quadrennial (2023-2026) which will also act as the foundation for the construction of the Contract of Agreed Objectives between the EFA and FIFA for the 2023-2026 cycle and the core reason for the EFA’s existence.
On Sunday, 3rd December 2022 the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) implemented the Football Governance Induction Workshop at the Happy Valley Hotel and Resort in Ezulwini. This follows the successful realization of the elective congress by the EFA’s Member Associations respectively. The EFA’s Member Associations are the Hhohho Regional Football Association, Manzini Regional Football Association, Lubombo Regional Football Association, Shiselweni Regional Football Association, Women Football Association, Premier League of Eswatini, Eswatini Coaches Association and Eswatini Referees Association.
The participants of this workshop were the Executive Committee Members of the EFA, Executive Committee Members of the respective EFA Member Associations and the General Secretaries of the EFA Member Associations and the facilitator was the General Secretary of the Eswatini Football Association Mr. Frederick Mngomezulu. This workshop gave the participants the perfect opportunity to be equipped as they are still new in their offices in as far as their terms of office are concerned. “This was a timely and informative workshop which touched very significant areas in football business. More similar workshops are needed for the empowerment of our football personnel which will enhance the development of the game in the country”, said Mr. Kenneth Makhanya who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Premier League of Eswatini.
Some of the topics that were discussed in the workshop included Football Governance, FIFA Forward Regulations, FIFA and EFA Contract of Agreed Objectives, Communication and Finance amongst others.
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