Referee Mathumo not deterred by lost opportunity

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
PROGRESSION in one’s career is one of the priorities for any person with stagnation bringing with it frustration and glumness.

Referee, Prince Mathumo had been hoping to see his career skyrocket following his elevation to the Fifa panel last year.

Mathumo had marked the year as a period to showcase his skills on the international stage but the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic saw sporting activity grinding to a halt along with the chance of international exposure. The Bulawayo-based centre-man lamented that his eagerly anticipated opportunity had been put on ice adding he had been ready to exhibit his talent on a higher level. Mathumo was promoted to the Fifa panel after just one year of officiating in the country’s top flight, a testimony of his abilities as a match official.

“Everyone delights in being elevated and for me I was happy the time had come for me to be seen at a higher stage, I was looking forward to the travels and shining on the international scene. However, Covid-19 has negatively affected everyone from footballers, whose moves have stalled to clubs whose crowning has been delayed, games being postponed it has been a difficult period for sports people,” he said.

Mathumo said he was regaining his hopes by seeing football games resuming in other countries and recent announcements of dates for Cosafa games and World Cup as well as Afcon qualifiers. He said he is keeping fit and keeping himself abreast of the latest trends in the game by reading updates on the laws of the game.

Mathumo was also part of a Fifa refresher course attended by Zimbabwe’s elite referees and facilitated by Fifa instructors.

“I learnt from a young age to turn every stumbling block into a stepping stone, so I have not relaxed despite the fact my last match was on 14 December last year. Yes, it’s difficult to keep on training indoors but I am gaining my verve back, seeing other leagues such as South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya among others resume and also the announcements of Afcon qualifiers and Cosafa tournament dates has given me renewed hope my day is on the horizon,” he said.

Mathumo was promoted to the Fifa panel together with Lawrence Zimondi but both are yet to taste international exposure and experience.

Promising female referee, Grace Gimo had been nominated by Cosafa to officiate at the second edition of the Cosafa Under-17 girls tournament that had been scheduled for April in Mauritius but was postponed.