23 Nov 2014

Referees have been urged to persevere against the challenges in their line of duty, CAF match Commissioner Col Edwin Senai has said. 

Speaking during the referees’ five days course held in Orapa recently, organised for Boteti region referees, Col. Senai said there were many obstacles in the field of refereeing urging them to persevere against those challenges.

The challenges, he said ranged from lack of refresher courses due to shortage of funding, ‘we get rusty because it is expensive to run courses,’ he said.

Delivering on the qualities of a referee, Col. Senai cited that the social life of a referee was an essential aspect, “the way you communicate with people and the kind of people you hang out with matters most,” he said. 

He added that alcoholism was not allowed in refereeing.

A referee, he said should be impartial, honest, trustworthy and physically fit. 

The objective of the course was to equip trainees with skills that would empower them to officiate immediately after the completion of the course, he said.

He stated that trainees would be equipped with skills such as flagging and refereeing techniques.

Col. Senai added that the course outline covers training on movement within the sport field, saying a referee should be able to position him/herself where there would not be any obstacles.

He said there were about 17 laws of the game which all referees should familiarise themselves with.

The laws included the size of the touch line, the type of ball to be used saying it should have been approved by FIFA and should bear a FIFA stamp as well as its pressure and weight.

In addition, he said the laws included the method of scoring, fouls, misconduct and interpretation of loss of the game among others.

Commenting, FIFA Boteti Region chairperson, Mr Phillimon Bunu said they have 25 referees in Boteti and the aim was to upgrade soccer to a higher level by equipping their referees with quality skills and eliminate any match fixing tendencies.

Referees, he said should be known as reliable and trustworthy people who could not be involved in match fixing, most importantly when working with young players.

Mr Bunu said their aim was to ensure that Boteti region teams become the best and the ambition was to have two teams in the Premier League.

The health official from Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) Mr Lawrence Nthutang urged the referees to value their work saying good health was essential for a referee.

Mr Nthutang said they should have the ability to control their temper adding that alcoholism and smoking were not good for refereeing.

The Business manager at OLDM, Mr Brian Makwaje encouraged the referees to implement the skills and techniques they acquired efficiently. ENDS