Mamello Rakotsoane
The Confederation of African Football (CAF), in partnership with the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA), has launched the CAF Safe Stadiums Initiative Workshop aimed at strengthening safety and security standards at football facilities across the country.
The three-day workshop, held at the Avani Lesotho Hotel & Casino, brought together safety and security personnel from football clubs, LeFA and the Premier League Management Committee.
The programme focuses on improving safety procedures before, during and after football matches, underscoring the growing importance of well-managed stadium environments in protecting players, officials and supporters.
With football crowds increasing and stadium infrastructure under constant pressure, sports authorities say proper planning, crowd control and risk management have become critical elements in hosting successful matches.
The workshop therefore seeks to equip stadium officials with the skills needed to prevent incidents such as overcrowding, structural failures, violence and medical emergencies.
Speaking during the opening session, LeFA’s President Lijane Nthunya said the association continues to address risks that could lead to stadium disasters such as overcrowding, structural failures and violence.
Nthunya noted that although Lesotho has not experienced major stadium tragedies like those recorded in other African countries, including Egypt and South Africa, it remains important to strengthen preventative measures.
He expressed hope that participants will immediately begin implementing improved safety procedures during the remaining matches of the current football season in both the premier league and A divisions.
The national stadium security officer and head of security at LeFA, Moeketsi Khamali, explained that the workshop aims to ensure that all activities taking place in stadiums run smoothly while maintaining effective security operations.
The initiative also comes at a time when football governing bodies across Africa are increasingly prioritising safety following past stadium disasters on the continent. Lessons from such incidents have led to stricter regulations on crowd management, emergency preparedness and stadium infrastructure compliance.
Meanwhile, head of safety and security at CAF, Christian Emeruwa, said the CAF safety and security department was established on 3 February 2019 to develop systems that improve safety standards at football events across Africa.
Emeruwa said one of the major challenges at the time was the lack of coordination in safety operations during CAF competitions, which led to the development of the first CAF Safety and Security Regulations used to guide stadium safety standards across the continent.
He explained that CAF’s responsibilities during tournaments include conducting inspections of airports, training venues, hotels for teams and officials, as well as stadium facilities to ensure they comply with required standards.
The department also deploys safety and security officers to support host countries during CAF tournaments and events, while risk assessments are conducted to identify potential threats and establish mitigation measures.
Emeruwa further noted that CAF has prioritised capacity building across Africa. Since 2019, the organisation has trained more than 1,129 safety and security officers and is now implementing the CAF Safe Stadium Initiative, which aims to train at least 40 safety officers in each member association.
The initiative is expected to significantly improve safety management at both international and domestic football matches, ensuring that stadiums provide secure environments for spectators and participants alike.
Also addressing participants, general manager of the Premier League Management Committee, Mabonolo Senekane, emphasised that safety, crowd control and health measures are fundamental to the success of any football event.
Senekane encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions, share experiences and develop practical solutions that will strengthen match-day operations.
She said the workshop provides an opportunity for security officials to collaborate and establish clear protocols to ensure that supporters enjoy football matches in a safe environment.
Summary
- The Confederation of African Football (CAF), in partnership with the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA), has launched the CAF Safe Stadiums Initiative Workshop aimed at strengthening safety and security standards at football facilities across the country.
- Meanwhile, head of safety and security at CAF, Christian Emeruwa, said the CAF safety and security department was established on 3 February 2019 to develop systems that improve safety standards at football events across Africa.
- Emeruwa said one of the major challenges at the time was the lack of coordination in safety operations during CAF competitions, which led to the development of the first CAF Safety and Security Regulations used to guide stadium safety standards across the continent.
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