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COSAFA referees manager Felix Tangawarima has hailed the performance of his protégé, Victor Gomes, in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final as a huge success and victory for Southern African.
Gomes took charge of the deciding match between winners Senegal and Egypt, and did not put a foot wrong in an exemplary display of officiating along with his assistants, Zakhele Siwela from South Africa and Lesotho’s Souru Phatsoane.
He was groomed through the COSAFA age-group tournaments and began refereeing on the international stage under the guidance of Tangawarima.
The Zimbabwean – revered at home as much as he is around the continent due to his dignified service during and after his active refereeing years – is also a FIFA instructor and member of the Confederation of African Football referees’ committee.
As COSAFA referees manager, he has overseen the grooming of a number of match officials for both men and women from the region.
“It was a big, big honour for the COSAFA zone and Victor did not disappoint,” Tangawarima told The COSAFA Show.
“We are very happy with his performance.
“Officiating in an AFCON final, with the whole world watching … he represented himself and South Africa very well.
“Gomes is a very intelligent referee and he listens. He did everything that he was advised to do on this big stage and he is very mature. He is a very good man-manager. “He manages the players very well and has a sense of responsibility. That has helped him a lot.
“The three match officials who were officiating, they are all products of our Under-17 competition. They have been through our age-group tournaments and now onto the world.” – Cosafa.com/Sports Reporter
Online Reporter