Eighty two referees from around the country passed the referees physical test at the National University of Science and Technology yesterday.
Report by Sukoluhle Mthethwa
The test was conducted under the guidance of technical and physical fitness instructors.
National chief instructor Sabelo Maphosa confirmed that they recorded a good pass rate.
“We had a 100% pass rate for the first time. This shows the improvement of the quality of referees. We had 25 new recruits vying for promotion to the Premier Soccer League while others will need to be replaced because of their age,” she said.
Zifa vice-president Ndumiso Gumede, who was also in attendance, encouraged women to take up refereeing as only eight women took part. The referees underwent a theory test at Elangeni Training Centre later in the day.
Maphosa said the exercise will be used to select the Zifa panel for 2013 referees and said no referees are guaranteed of a place in the panel.
“The referees undergo a theory test, physical fitness test and will be assessed using reports from match commissioners. It is a Fifa requirement to have these tests,” she said.
