Chimene leads Zim refs on FIFA panel

Don Makanyanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub

REIGNING Referee of the Year Brighton Chimene will once again lead the cast of Zimbabwean match officials on the FIFA Panel for the 2025 season.

The country has 14 officials who have been picked by the world soccer governing body for this year. It was the similar number that Zimbabwe had on the 2024 panel.

However, 13 of them have retained their places with only centre referee, Tichaona Mbire, who hogged the limelight for controversially handling the Dynamos against Herentals at Rufaro, the only one who fell by the wayside.

Mbire will be replaced by Owen Manenda on the panel. ZIFA referees’ chairman, Norman Matemera, confirmed that the list of the 2025 officials who have made the FIFA panel and added that Zimbabwe is still to have an official on the crew that will be tasked with Video Assistant Referees (VAR) duties.

“I would like to advise you that our 2025 FIFA referees panel is out, and we are happy that in 2025 we will be having referees going for international duty,” said Matemera.

It will be the second successive year that Zimbabwe will have match officials on the FIFA panel following the lifting of the country’s suspension from the international game, which had been imposed in February 2022.

And Chimene leads the cast of the seven centre referees while Mercy Mayimbo, Thanks Nyahuye, and Grace Gimo make up the cast of female officials. Matemera said his committee had submitted 18 names for FIFA’s consideration. “We had submitted about 18 names for consideration, but only 14 were successful, and those who did not make it on the list are Nelson Meke, Tichaona Chirwa, Polite Dube, and Linette Moyo.

“It was my hope that we revert to the numbers of referees we had on the international panel before the FIFA suspension,” said Matemera. The ZIFA referees boss challenged those that have been selected to uphold high standards of officiating. “Being on an international panel is the envy of everyone. Hence, it has to be defended by good deeds both on and off the field of play. “How you conduct yourself and performance-wise can guarantee one a long stay on the panel. “I encourage those chosen to keep on working hard and better this year’s performance.

“Those aspiring to be on the international panel, I urge them to work hard and stay away from dirty deeds,” said Matemera.

Apart from Cihemene and his colleagues on the panel of centre referees — Thabani Ruzario, Lawrence Zimondi, and Manenda — Zimbabwe also has four assistants on the panel.

These include the hardworking and yet affable Tafadzwa Nkala, veteran Thomas Kusosa, Luckson Mhara, and Edgar Rumeck.

The crew of female assistants includes Claris Simango, Progress Chatsamwa, and Dominica Melusi.

Zim FIFA panel refs

Referees: Men

1. Chimene Brighton

2. Ruzario Thabani

3. Zimondi Lawrence

4. Manenda Owen

Referees: Women

1. Mayimbo Mercy Chipo

2. Gimo Grace

3. Nyahuye Thanks