Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira-Zimpapers Sports Hub
TOP Zimbabwean referee Brighton Chimene’s star continues to rise with the Confederation of African Football retaining him on their panel and appointing him to officiate in the Champions League and Confederation Cup matches.
Chimene is also the reigning Castle Referee of the Year.
ZIFA yesterday hailed Chimene’s latest CAF assignments, describing them as a testament to his consistency and professionalism on the continental stage.
The latest appointments will see the experienced Zimbabwean official take charge as a centre referee and as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in separate assignments.
And ZIFA naturally took pride in the exploits of the best referee of his generation.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) congratulates referee Brighton Chimene on his latest CAF Continental appointments, a reflection of his consistency and the growing recognition of Zimbabwean match officials on the African stage.
“Chimene has been appointed as Referee for the CAF Confederation Cup 2025/26 fixture between CR Belouizdad (Algeria) and Al-Masry SC (Egypt), to be played on 21 March 2026 at Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers (kick-off 20:00 CAT).
“He will also serve as Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the CAF Champions League 2025/26 match between Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) and Stade Malien (Mali) on 13 March 2026 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Tshwane, South Africa (kick-off 20:00 CAT).
“ZIFA wishes Brighton Chimene well as he carries the national flag with pride and professionalism on these important continental assignments,” ZIFA wrote.
The appointments mark another important step in Chimene’s steady rise in refereeing, with the Rusape-based official continuing to keep alive his dream of officiating at the global football showcase the FIFA World Cup. Soft-spoken and humble off the pitch, Chimene has earned admiration for the authority and composure he displays when handling high-pressure matches both locally and on the continent.
A former Vengere High School student, Chimene has built an impressive resume over the years through consistent performances in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
His excellence has not gone unnoticed as he has repeatedly been recognised among the country’s top referees.
Chimene has previously scooped the prestigious Castle Lager Premiership Referee of the Year award several times, first winning the accolade in 2014 before reclaiming it again in 2019.
His continued consistency saw him crowned Referee of the Year again in 2023, further underlining his status as one of the most reliable officials in the domestic game.
The decorated referee has also been closing in on the long-standing benchmark set by legendary Zimbabwean referee Felix Tangawarima who won eight accolades.
Chimene’s growing collection of Referee of the Year awards has steadily narrowed the gap with Tangawarima’s record, highlighting the remarkable longevity and excellence of his officiating career.
Through his performances, Chimene has become one of Zimbabwe’s most recognisable refereeing exports, regularly trusted with high-profile matches across the continent.
His latest CAF appointments not only underline his personal progress but also signal renewed recognition of Zimbabwean referees at the highest levels of African football and the strides that ZIFA have been making to build the capacities of local match officials.
