PIGG’S PEAK – South Africa’s top referee, Abongile Tom, has revealed how he had to choose his passion over his career after stepping away from the South African Police Service (SAPS) to fully dedicate himself to officiating.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup marked a historic joint milestone for South African referee Abongile Tom and veteran assistant referee Zakhele Siwela, adding to their already impressive resumés, which feature high-profile assignments at successive editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (including the 2023 and 2025 tournaments), the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, and the African Nations Championship (CHAN). While Tom previously handled the 2022 CHAN and elite CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup matches, Siwela brought invaluable veteran experience to the global stage after running the lines at both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The two high-profile match officials were recently at the Killarney Sports Ground in Pigg’s Peak, where they joined a contingent of South African referees for friendly fixtures against their Eswatini counterparts, with the hosts securing a 4–1 victory.
Reflecting on the experience, Tom said: “It was good to meet our brothers. If you were to ask me about the standard of refereeing at the World Cup, I would say it was a nine out of 10—it’s a referee’s dream, you know.”
Asked for his advice to local Eswatini referees who frequently encounter administrative hurdles at their regular workplaces when granted international assignments, Tom opened up about his own sacrifices.
“I worked for the police for nine years before I resigned because I had to choose my passion, which is refereeing,” Tom explained. “It is true that at some point, my workplace had issues with me leaving for international duties, so I had to make a choice. I wish our employers could understand that we represent the country on a global stage and allow us to travel without being restricted or penalised over work commitments.”
He added that once Eswatini fully professionalises its refereeing structures, it will become much easier for local officials—such as Viana—to accept international assignments seamlessly. Furthermore, Tom noted that Viana’s officiating at top-level competitions should serve as a major inspiration for local referees, suggesting that the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) or the Ministry of Sports should engage her for seminars to pass on her invaluable knowledge.
Meanwhile, Siwela emphasised the importance of such exchanges.
“It is good to share ideas with local referees through friendly games like this,” Siwela said. “The reason we produce more FIFA-listed referees in South Africa is because we maintain a high standard of fitness. Eswatini referees have reached a commendable bar, and with more CAF-affiliated teams playing in Eswatini, the overall standard of refereeing will only continue to improve.”
Addressing the challenges surrounding workplace leave for international duties, Siwela acknowledged that it remains a hurdle.
“It is a big challenge, and naturally, no employer wants staff absent frequently. However, the government must step in to protect and allow referees to travel, because when they officiate abroad, they are carrying the flag of the nation.”
Eswatini Referees Association (ERA) Secretary Mbongeni Shongwe highlighted the significance of hosting such elite guests during their second annual exchange, following last year’s visit to KwaZulu-Natal.
“We are excited to be graced by two referees who have just officiated at the World Cup,” Shongwe said. “We brought them here to inspire local referees. Refereeing can genuinely change a person’s life, so we believe they will be a massive inspiration for our officials to dream bigger. We hope our match officials learn a great deal from them.”
Precious Dlamini, Manager of Meru Filling Station—which operates eight branches across Eswatini and sponsored the initiative—expressed pride in supporting the event.
“We felt we should do something meaningful for the community, and when approached, we couldn’t say no to giving back,” Dlamini said. “We are glad the tournament was a success. As a company, we strongly promote health and fitness, so this aligned perfectly with our values. We would also like to extend our congratulations to the winners.”
