(At EFA Technical Centre)
LOBAMBA – Finally!
After months of delay, the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) has delivered on its promise, unveiling referee communication devices worth E150 000.
Local match officials will now utilise radios and earpieces following the official handover by EFA President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane and Chief Executive Officer Frederick Mngomezulu at the EFA Technical Centre in Lobamba yesterday.
Mngomezulu confirmed the value of the equipment during a press briefing, adding that the devices are expected to debut during the Ingwenyama SMVAF Cup semi-finals on April 19. The fixtures will see Young Buffaloes face Nsingizini Hotspurs, while Green Mamba take on Manzini Sea Birds.
“We are pleased to officially hand over the long-awaited communication devices valued at E150 000. We believe these will help improve the standard of officiating, which is critical to the level of our football,” Mngomezulu said.
Simelane echoed the sentiment, while issuing a subtle warning on accountability.
“Referees are often blamed for poor decisions. At least now they will communicate better. We hope these devices will not disappear into thin air,” he said.
Referees Committee Chairman Sicelo Nene welcomed the development, describing it as a vital tool in raising officiating standards.
“These will come in handy during matches. We are working tirelessly to improve refereeing standards, and we continuously review performances while applying discipline where necessary,” Nene said.
The move comes months after the association first announced plans to introduce communication systems at the start of the elite league season in October last year, alongside ambitions to explore Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Lite technology.
However, by December, with 13 matches already played, referees were still relying on hand signals and verbal communication across the pitch, raising concerns over delays in implementation.
In a related development, the Eswatini Referees Association (ERA) had earlier invested E51 350 in smart watches as part of its 2024/25 financial plan, aimed at enhancing interaction between referees, assistants and potential VAR systems.
RC Chairman Sicelo Nene receives a set of their communication devices from EFA President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane during their official handover yesterday.