SOCCER – NEWLY certified referees’ assessors have been urged to prioritise the development of match officials and help raise refereeing standards in Eswatini.
The call was made by Eswatini Football Association (EFA) President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane during the closing ceremony of the FIFA Member Association (MA) Referees Assessor Course 2026 at Thokoza Church Centre in Mbabane on Friday.
Simelane emphasised that assessors played a critical role in shaping the future of refereeing, stressing that their responsibilities should go beyond identifying mistakes to helping match officials improve their performances.
“Refereeing is one of the most critical pillars of football. Equally important is the role of the referees’ assessor, whose responsibility is not simply to evaluate but to help match officials improve with confidence and consistency,” he said.
He urged the participants to carry out their duties with honesty, patience and professionalism, noting that their certification was not only recognition of their commitment but also a call to serve the game.
The five-day course was facilitated by South African FIFA Instructor Jerome Damon, who shared his expertise in referee assessment, performance evaluation and the development of match officials.
Damon challenged participants to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme to mentor referees and provide constructive feedback that would support their professional growth.
“The future of refereeing in Eswatini will not be determined solely by talented referees but by the quality of the people who guide, mentor and develop them,” he said.
FIFA and CAF referee Letticia Viana described the training as an eye-opening experience that had helped them recognise gaps in their assessment skills and identify areas for improvement.
She said the course had reinforced the need for assessors to develop alongside referees to ensure consistency and raise standards across the game.
“It is no use for referees to keep advancing while assessors are left behind. These five days have been an eye-opener. We now understand where we were falling short,” Viana said.
She stressed that assessors should focus on building referees’ confidence and helping them improve rather than merely highlighting their shortcomings.
“Our role is never to catch a referee out but always to pull them up. The game cannot start without a referee. However, the game cannot grow without an assessor,” she said.
