Chronicle Editor
Petros Kausiyo, Harare Bureau
TWO years after they suffered the collateral damage of Zimbabwe’s isolation from the international football family, the country’s referees have bounced back on the Fifa panel for 2024.
Fifa’s suspension of Zimbabwe — effected in February 2022 — meant the local match officials could not be considered for any appointments for international assignments.
This also affected their participation on Confederation of Africa Football (Caf) duties with the effects, still being felt, as none of the Zimbabwean referees will line-up for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Cote d’Ivoire early next year.
But after being frozen out — there was joy in the Zifa Referees Committee (ZRC) yesterday — as 14 of their top officials were appointed onto the Fifa panel for 2024.
That elite panel will, have seven centre officials and six local assistant referees.
Reigning Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Referee of the Year, Brighton Chimene, headlines the cast of local officials on the Fifa panel.
The others are Lawrence Zimondi, veteran female official Mercy Mayimbo, Grace Gimo, Tichaona Mbire, Thabani Ruzario and Thanks Nyahuye.
For the panel of assistants, Zimbabwe have the seasoned Thomas Kusosa leading a group that also includes vastly improved Tafadzwa Nkala, Claris Simango, Progress Chatsamwa, Luckson Mhara, Dominica Melusi and Edgar Rumeck.
With the quartet of Norman Matemera, Stella Ruvinga, Brighton Nyika and Faith Mloyi retiring at the end of 2022, four new faces have burst onto the panel.
These are Nkala, Mbire, Ruzario and Chatsamwa.
Following their retirement, Matemera and Mloyi have since taken up posts on the ZRC with the former being appointed chairman of that key wing of the game.
Matemera, who served on the panel with distinction before reaching retirement age, was yesterday, naturally elated at having his referees being re-admitted for international assignments.
“We are very excited that at least we are back from the isolation,” Matemera said.
“We are happy that we have been put back on the equal footing with the rest of the world.
“The starting point is to have referees on the international panel then we build from there to spice the recognition with quality, so that we are able to have referees on the Caf and Fifa tournaments.”
Matemera, also challenged the appointed officials to prove their mettle.
“Those local referees selected now have to up their game. It’s no longer just refereeing but we should see a difference in their officiating.
“Though we are smiling, we should not be distracted by the seven referees and seven assistant referees inclusive of males and females selected.
“Before the Fifa suspension, we had four referees and seven assistant referees for men and women. It was three referees and as many assistant referees.
“This means that our numbers have gone down and we have to work hard to reclaim our slots,” he said.
Matemera stated that he is sure the Zimbabweans on the panel will perform to the highest standards.
“However, the team that we will be having for the 2024 international panel is capable, I don’t doubt them but they need all our support.”
Matemera, however, bemoaned the absence of the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the country — which he said had also worked against the local officials in the selection for major international tournaments like the Africa Cup of Nations, World Cup.
“VAR has come for good that’s the way football is now being officiated.
“No matter that we don’t like it or we don’t have the resources to implement it — it is here to stay.
“A referee with knowledge of VAR protocols has an added advantage when selection for tournaments comes.
“Our referees, without VAR knowledge and experience, will most likely to be overlooked.
“What I’m saying here is VAR is now as important as other facets of refereeing. There is now the need to intensify the call for VAR in our country,” Matemera said.
Fifa in confirming the appointment of the Zifa referees also named, those who had not made the cut.
While he got an appointment on the panel, Chimene could not be considered for the VAR list owing to his lack of experience and regular practice with the technology.
Similarly, Gimo and Simango could not be considered on such a panel despite having received some VAR training.
Zifa had submitted a 13-member list for consideration for centre referees and as many on the assistants’ panel.
But there was no place for such officials like Referee of the Year runners-up Francis Chirwa and Zondiwa Nkosana, Patrick Kalota, Linet Moyo, Nelson Meke and Owen Manenda.
Sources close to the goings on at Fifa indicated that the world soccer governing body, also assess the international activity of a Member Association and the level of the country’s topflight league when they allot refereeing slots.
“It is important to note that an increase in the number of candidates nominated by a Member Association will only be considered if a detailed written justification is submitted before the nomination deadline.
“For Zimbabwe nothing has changed given that there were two years without international football for the country and the PSL when compared to some of the top leagues around the world, has also fallen behind,” the sources said.
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