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MBABANE – Former South African international referee Jerome Damon has urged Eswatini’s referee assessors to remain firm when it matters and never soften their feedback.
Damon, who officiated at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, was speaking yesterday afternoon as the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) officially closed its five-day Member Association Referees Assessor Course. The course was held at the Thokoza Church Centre in Mbabane and was closed by EFA President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane.
“As assessors, you must be fair but firm. Honest but constructive. Critical when necessary, but always focused on development,” Damon told the group.
He stressed that every report, every conversation and every piece of feedback can shape a referee’s career.
“Our role is not to catch referees out. Our role is to build them up. A game can start without spectators. A game can start without assessors. But a game cannot start without a referee,” he said.
Damon urged the assessors to take the principles discussed during the course and apply them week in, week out. He called on them to be ambassadors for quality, champions of high standards and relentless in driving continuous improvement.
He said he had been impressed not only by the knowledge displayed but also by the clear commitment to raising the bar.
“The future of refereeing in Eswatini will not be determined solely by talented referees. It will be determined by the quality of the people who guide, mentor and develop them. That responsibility now rests with each of you,” Damon said.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Eswatini Video Assistant Referee Letticia Viana said the group was grateful for the insight Damon had shared. She said they had been keen to learn from someone who had walked the same path and who was pushing them to aim higher, adding that the knowledge gained would help lift the standard of refereeing across the country.