Women’s referees challenged
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) has challenged recently-trained women’s football referees to prove their worth by adding professionalism to the women’s football leagues kicking off later this month in all the regions.
Fam Executive Committee Member, Daud Mtanthiko, made the sentiments on Friday during the closing ceremony of women’s football referees’ course at the association’s Mpira Village in Blantyre.
Ninety female referees have been trained across the country, with 30 allocated to each region.
Mtanthiko said the training was in line with Fifa’s recommendation to have women’s football matches officiated by female referees.
“The training of these referees will ensure that the leagues run smoothly and achieve their goals of unearthing talent. Having female referees will also encourage more girls to fall in love with the game, consequently leading to the growth of the game in the country,” he said.
Mtanthiko also hoped that quality officiatiation would help in curbing violence that had been haunting women’s football.
One of the training facilitators, Bester Kalombo, appealed to the referees to exercise professionalism at all times.
National Women’s Football Association Chairperson, Severia Chalira, said they were looking forward to successful leagues after two years of a drought of league competitions.
“We decided to use part of our annual subvention to sponsor the leagues so that the sport should not die. We look forward to discovering more players as we rebuild the national team,” she said.
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