The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
LOCAL soccer referees should target officiating in high profile matches at the continental and world level.
Zifa vice-president Omega Sibanda said the country should see more officials being named on the Caf and Fifa panels.
Officially opening the Elite Referees Course at Hillside Teachers College in Bulawayo yesterday, Sibanda said it was critical for referees to maintain integrity and shun bribes and match-fixing.
The first referees’ course of the year was attended by 80 Zifa panel referees who are expected to fit the 72 slots reserved for top flight referees.
“We only have six slots reserved for us in the Fifa panel but I do not think we should be satisfied with that but we should increase to between 15 and 20. It is not impossible but it is something that can be achieved.
“Many reach the Zifa panel and do not bother themselves about going higher but my challenge to you today is to aim higher,” he said.
Sibanda said as Zifa they would be doing all in their power to open up opportunities for local referees.
He said they are hoping the forthcoming Caf elections would usher in a new era that would change the skewed landscape that has seen North and West African officials being given preferential treatment.
Sibanda said most finals in Caf tournaments from juniors to the flagship Afcon were handed to West and North African referees creating an impression Southern African referees were incompetent.
“New leadership at Caf would certainly benefit you (referees) because it would give us an opportunity to rectify this situation that has seen Caf tournaments being the preserve of match officials from West and North Africa.
“We will work hard to ensure there are more opportunities for you particularly now that our president, Philip Chiyangwa is at the helm of Cosafa,” he said.
Out of the 80 attendees only six were women, a figure that caused Sibanda concern.
He said there was need to see more women getting into refereeing adding training of match officials should start at a tender age. He also called for more instructors saying a situation where a province only had one instructor was untenable.
The top flight panel has been reduced from last year’s 96 to 72 with focus on quality. The elite course is being facilitated by Sabelo Maphosa, Alfred Zindove, Thabani Mkantjo and Gladmore Muzambi.
Also present at the official opening were Zifa Southern Region board member, Tumediso Mokoena and Marko Dube, who is in charge of coaching courses in the Southern Region.
