(At Sigwaca House)
MBABANE – Warned!
Eswatini Football Association (EFA) President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane, through Vice President Steve Horton, has warned Premier League teams that safeguarding and matchday security are no longer optional extras, but fundamental obligations that clubs must enforce.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of an intensive two-day EFA Safety, Security and Safeguarding Workshop, the football chief made it clear that the certificates handed out to club security officers come with heavy responsibilities to clean up the local game.
The workshop, which was facilitated by CAF expert and South African TotalEnergies CAF Champions League winner Mamelodi Sundowns’ Humphrey Thlobela, targeted Club Safety and Security Officers from top-flight teams to equip them with skills in crowd management, risk assessment, emergency preparedness and the protection of vulnerable groups.
The EFA head emphasised that ensuring a secure environment is directly linked to the commercial survival and growth of local football.
“The triumph of our football competitions depends not only on what happens on the field of play, but also on how effectively we manage the environment around it,” he said.
“Safe stadiums, protected participants and well-prepared security structures contribute significantly to the growth, credibility and commercial attractiveness of our game.”
With local stadiums frequently facing scrutiny over fan behaviour, the president urged the trained officers to act as the first line of defence and become envoys of change within their respective management and technical structures.
He noted that the initiative aligns directly with stringent global requirements set by world governing body FIFA and continental counterparts CAF.
*Full article available on Pressreader*
