17 July 2018 – SAFA is hosting an Elite Referees Course from the 14-22 July 2018 in preparation for the start of the new football season.
The course is conducted jointly by FIFA and SAFA referee instructors.
The focus is on both technical and physical aspects with an emphasis is on Integrated Training with the players.
Real match situations are simulated during training to sharpen quick decision-making process.
Other components of the course include going through the latest amendments to the Laws of the Game and the theoretical facilitationon Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Match commissioners are part of the course and have written an examination paper on the Laws of the Game on their arrival.
Their programme covers, to a large extent, the use of technology in the assessment of referees.
In the new season commissioners will have to cut clips from matches, which (clips) will form part of their assessment reports to referees.
This act will undoubtedly lead to a better interaction of referees with commissioners’ assessment reports.
Dr Thulani Ngwenya, Head of SAFA Medical Committee, will share some interesting developments emanating from the recently held Medical Symposium, which was a great success. Referees and commissioners will richly benefit a lot from the latest medical trends in sports.
The Course is taking place in Kempton Park.
FIFA instructors, under the stewardship of Mr Carlos Henriques, are: Technical – Jerome Damon; Physical – Ms Tracey Lovell.
SAFA instructors are: Technical – Enock Molefe, Abdul Ebrahim and Deidre Zealand; Physical – Derek Hanson and Madoda Sapula.
Fitness assessment was conducted on the 15th and will again be on the 19th at Boksburg Stadium.
Match officials will warmly welcome back Zakhele Siwela, who will be an esteemed guest on the 18th. He will share his experience of being the only South African assistant referee in the recently concluded FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia.
Unfortunately no referee from South Africa was part part of the World Cup. This is a challenge to all our referees to strive to be part of the 2022 version of the global tournament.
However, the Association is impressed with the progress being made in the refereeing arena in the country. This progress is evidenced by the high standard of officiating displayed last season.