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Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S youngest referee on the Fifa panel Salani Ncube, 30, left the country on Saturday to participate in a week-long Caf Young Referees’ clinic that starts in Cameroon tomorrow.Ncube, one of the best assistant referees in the land, has been on the Fifa assistant referees’ panel since 2012. The other Zimbabweans on the same panel are Bongani Gadzikwa, 41, Hwange-based Abraham Manda, 40, Tapfumanei Mutengwa, 39, Brighton Nyika, 33, and Edgar Rumeck, 32.
Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela yesterday confirmed that Ncube had been invited for the continental referees’ course in Cameroon.
“Our referee Salani Ncube is in Cameroon for the young referees’ course. The clinic is meant to groom young referees who can be deployed to handle international assignments. We are happy that as a nation the future looks promising with the calibre of these referees,” Gwesela said.
By being invited for the Cameroon clinic, Ncube has enhanced his chances of officiating at next year’s African Nations Cup finals to be held in Morocco.
Caf has shown commitment to increase the quality and quantity of referees on the continent and the focus is on talented and educated young people.
“Caf is committed to increasing the quality and quantity of referees in the continent. Focus is on talented and educated young people and the aim is to have a large number of high quality referees in the future,” read a statement on cafonline.
derick.khumalo