23 June 2022– Vetern referees Victor Hlungwani and Phillip Shumani Tinyani are on the verge of retiring from refereeing, after serveing South African football for over 2 decades.

Hlungwani who was born on 4 February 1976 in Giyani, Limpopo, started refereeing in 1991 at age of 15 before joining the SAFA LFA in 1992.

The imposing match official made his PSL debut in 2002/2003 season when he officiated in the Nedbank Cup match featuring Santos and Island FC.

He has served in the top-flight football with distinction for 20 years and until recently, was on the FIFA international panel.

In 2011/2012, Hlungwani was voted the PSL Referee of the Year.

His colleague, Phillip Shumani Tinyani was born on 24 August 1974, in a village called Dzimauli in Limpopo and is a product of Mutale Local Football Association (Nesasi).

He made his first Premier Soccer League (PSL) appearance in the 2003/2004 season and has served in the top-flight football for the past 19 years.

South African Football Association (SAFA) chair of referee, Natasha Tsichlas said the Association and the country would like to thank these two football servants for their contribution to the game and inspiring the next generation of match officials.

‘’On behalf of SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan and the football fraternity, I would like to thank the two for their professionalism and dedication to the game. I hope with their wealth of experience, SAFA will continue to utilize their experience in producing the future generation of referees,’’ she said.