(At Sigwaca House)
MBABANE – In a major move to elevate the quality of officiating in the country, EFA has officially presented the Eswatini Referees Association (ERA) with new badges.
The presentation was conducted by Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngomezulu at Sigwaca House yesterday. Also in attendance were the ERA Chairman, Mbongiseni Fakudze and his executive committee.
Mngomezulu revealed that, as the governing body for local football, the EFA has launched several projects aimed at helping referees execute their duties effectively, particularly as the domestic season reaches its climax. “We want to assist referees in bettering their performance and to bolster their confidence as they go about their business,” Mngomezulu said.
He explained that, in line with global practices, officials are distinguished by their badges. This prompted the EFA to provide specific insignia to differentiate between centre referees and their assistants.
“We will soon be providing referees with communication tools to make their officiating much easier and more efficient,” Mngomezulu added.
Beyond the badges, the CEO further revealed that the EFA also presented the officials with 60 sets of refereeing kits.
Fakudze thanked the EFA for its ongoing support, noting that the organisation, led by Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane, has never hesitated to assist the ERA whenever called upon.
“We are delighted to hear that the EFA will soon be providing us with communication tools to enhance our work,” Fakudze said.
Meanwhile, these badges represent far more than a simple uniform update; they are a critical tool for professional alignment within the sport.
Much like in South Africa, where the South African Football Association (SAFA) national accreditation and FIFA international badges verify an official’s specific qualifications—these emblem ensure that Eswatini’s referees are recognised under the global standards of Law 5 of the Laws of the Game.
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