Top ref fails fitness test

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
FIFA referee, Norman Matemera’s Total Africa Cup of Nations qualifier assignment hangs in balance after he failed a fitness test held at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) in Bulawayo yesterday.

Matemera has been assigned to handle the Group J encounter between Equatorial Guinea and Libya on 15 November at the Estadio de Bata in Bata, Equatorial Guinea. The Zifa Referees Committee held a fitness test for seven referees as they sought to conclude the assessment of match officials in light of the planned resumption of football.

The seven referees who were assessed yesterday had failed to attend last week’s fitness test that included all other referees due to various reasons. Matemera is part of three referees who failed yesterday together with Chiredzi-based national referee, Kuzivakwamwari Jaravaza and assistant referee, Antony Siyavunda who is also based in the Lowveld. However, it is the country’s top referee, Matemera whose failure is likely to be a dent as he was the only centre referee set to handle 2021 Afcon qualifier matches.

ZRC chairman Bryton Malandule confirmed the outcome of the tests yesterday, saying Caf had given them until today to complete the referees’ assessments. He said while they could have completed all the tests last week, where a majority of referees took part, the seven officials had been unable to avail themselves and were given the opportunity to go through the Cooper’s test yesterday.

“The seven had told us they would be unavailable last week for different reasons so we arranged they be tested yesterday and we had three referees who failed while four went through. In last week’s lot we did not get any positive corona virus result when we tested them and while there are a number of Premier Soccer League referees who failed, there are no Fifa accredited referees who failed,” said Malandule.

He said those who passed include female referee, Blessing Mpande, assistant referee, Victor Kambadza, centre officials, Nkosana Nduna and Washington Chari. Matemera is one of three local referees that has been assigned the Equatorial Guinea-Libya tie together with Thomas Kusosa as assistant while Brighton Chimene was given the role of fourth official.

Namibia’s Mathew Kanyanga is the other assistant referee. Former referee Felix Tangawarima has been appointed Caf’s referee administrator in the game between Lesotho and Benin scheduled for Setsoto Stadium in Maseru on 17 November.