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Grace Chingoma-Senior Sports Reporter
THE ZIFA Referees Committee made a huge statement of intent ahead of the new Castle Lager Premiership football season after it reduced the number of match officials who will handle the top-flight games this term to 48.
The figure is very lean compared to 98 referees that were on the panel last year for the league matches.
A total of 21 centre referees and 27 assistants constitute this year’s elite referees panel until another fitness test is conducted.
Two women — Grace Gimo and Mercy Mayimbo — have been retained on the panel to handle the men’s league matches.
The referees on the panel passed the latest fitness test that was conducted on Sunday in Bulawayo during the three-day ZIFA Referees Committee workshop that was held at Hillside Teachers College.
The domestic match officials hogged the limelight for the wrong reasons during the early part of last season, and it was partly attributed to the bloated size of the elite panel, hence the decision to streamline.
The Committee’s vice chairman, Ruzive Ruzive, believes they have done enough to ensure quality and consistent refereeing would be maintained this season.
Ruzive deputises ZIFA executive committee member, Barbara Chikosi, in the five-member committee that was appointed by the local football motherbody last year. The other members are veterans Wilfred Mukuna, Sabelo Sibindi Maphosa and Makonese Masakadza.
“We have 48 referees on our panel; we reduced from 98. We are going to have 21 referees and 27 assistants. What it means is that they now have more matches. We trimmed due to issues of fitness,” said Ruzive.
The Committee held their annual FIFA approved physical tests last September. The high-profile tests also determined which of their referees would be put on the FIFA panel once local football is readmitted into international football.
Ruzive said they are targeting to conduct three fitness tests this year.
“We want to have three to four fitness tests per year, but we will only conduct three due to financial constraints. This will help us to maintain the quality of referees. It means we are always in check,” he said.
The former referee added that the shortlisted referees have been working flat out and are fit and raring to go ahead of the Premier Soccer League kick-off this weekend.
However, Ruzive also encouraged the Premier Soccer League clubs to play their part in ensuring that the match officials are always ready for the season by inviting them to handle friendly matches during the pre-season.
“You must take note that referees cannot prepare alone; they also need pre-season action of six weeks just like the teams themselves.
“Teams should use referees by inviting the officials to their friendly matches. Yes, the referees would be preparing alone working on fitness but they also need game situations to warm-up so that they won’t be slow in picking up when the season begins.
“But most league teams shun the referees by not playing PSL-sanctioned friendly matches where they request for match officials.
“During the six weeks of pre-season, a referee should have at least two games and have match fitness for the game. Referees also need that and we hope next pre-season the top-flight teams will take note of that,” said Ruzive.
Ruzive was happy that during the weekend’s tests, the referees fared well and had a more than 90 percent pass rate.
“We held a workshop for the elite referees and it was capped with a fitness test. 67 referees ran and we had a pass rate of more than 90 percent. One male referee failed because he had high blood pressure and ran against the doctor’s advice, this means there is progress in terms of fitness.
“Three ladies also failed in the men’s fitness test. They didn’t fail the women’s physical test but they failed the men’s test as they were determined to handle the Premier Soccer League matches,” said Ruzive.
The weekend’s workshop was facilitated by instructors Maphosa, Ruzive, Masakadza, Norman Matemera and Brighton Nyika.
Online Reporter