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Just recently we hosted the CAF “Young Talent” referees course from 23-30 June 2007. This all important talented young African referees were followed by our own 2007/2008 historic referees workshop (08-11 July 2007). This workshop was historic in a sense that all the workshop participants including Match Commissioners signed “A Referees’ Pledge” and also adopted the Referees Code of Conduct as part of the referees’ policy formulation process.
The hosting of the FIFA FOTURO III Referees’ Instructors Course at our own backyard certainly goes hand in hand with the concept of hosting the first ever African World Cup in the continent, the focus will be on the education of member Association Referees Instructors in the topics of refereeing. The 32 participants are coming from Botswana; Malawi; Uganda; Nigeria; Mozambique; Zambia; Tanzania; Mauritius; Kenya; Namibia; Swaziland; Zimbabwe; Lesotho and SA.
These instructors will leave the course with a very clear mandate to go out there and light their candles to brighten Africa as they have a duty to produce great referees that will make a big difference come FIFA 2010 World Cup. As the saying goes “A candle looses none of its light by lighting another” These instructors are men and women of great integrity and a wealth of experience and knowledge as former international referees who are investing back into the game.
Mr Ashford Mamelodi the FIFA development officer together with Mr Fernando Trezaco Garcia the FIFA Instructor and Mr Linus Mba the CAF instructor were all upbeat in anticipation of the week’s proceedings. The embracing of the African World Cup seem like a great motivation to the course attendees. They expressed great excitement in the prospects that they would also leave a great legacy through the development of referees in the Continent.
Message by the Kirsten Nematandani SAFA's chairman of the referees' committee
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