SAFA Delighted With Appointment Of SA Referees To Elite World Cup List
06 February 2010
 The South African Football Association (SAFA) proudly congratulates the South African and African officials who have been appointed to the elite list of referees and assistant referees to officiate at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
FIFA’s Referees Committee yesterday announced 30 referees from 28 countries who will officiate at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, among them top South African whistleman Jerome Damon.
Damon will, with South Africa’s Enoch Molefe and Rwanda’s Celestin Ntagungira, be among the referee trios for the tournament chosen for the final 30 out of an initial 54 trios for the tournament. “SAFA is absolutely delighted with the appointment of Jerome Damon and Enoch Molefe, with Rwanda’s Celestin Ntagungira, to the list of FIFA World Cup trios. Jerome and Enoch have consistently been among our country’s best and most consistent officials who have proven themselves time and again at local, continental and international level,” said SAFA CEO Leslie Sedibe.
Damon and Molefe were subjected to a six year training phase, being initiated prior to the FIFA 2006 World Cup in Germany and culminated in Friday’s (05 February) announcement. The success of the two match officials can be attributed to a high work ethic and devotion to duty.
“Their selection to the elite World Cup panel is the crowning moment in what has been wonderful careers. For a referee making the final cut for the World Cup tournament is equivalent to a national team player making his country’s 23-man final World Cup squad. We’re overjoyed for Jerome and Enoch. We wish them, and all the African officials chosen, all the best during the tournament,” added Referees Committee Chairman Alpha Mchunu.
SAFA President Kirsten Nematandani concluded by saying that the SAFA National Executive Committee acknowledges the good work done by the Referees Department in the training and development of top class match officials.
“We are delighted with this magnificent achievement, it is indeed an indication that we are on the right path in our quest to develop young referees that can emulate the achievements of Jerome and Enoch. We wish them all of the very best,” said Nematandani.
During 2009, both match officials officiated in the FIFA Under 17 World Cup Tournament held in Nigeria. Jerome was also appointed to officiate the CAF Champions League Final Second Leg.
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