90 undergo women football referees training
A five-day women football referees beginners’ course exclusively for women is underway in the country’s three regions.
The course is the beginning of a new era in which only female referees will be allowed to officiate women football, according to National Women Football Association (NWFA) chairperson Severia Chalira.
“All along, we have been involving male referees in our matches because we only have 10 female referees in the country. But this will change once the current female referees graduate,” she said.
She, however, said they will not rush to abandon the male referees until the new crop of female referees gain experience.
According to Football Association of Malawi (FAM) referees’ development officer Maxwell Mtonga, renowned referees Bester Kalombo, Martha Nyekanyeka and Zuza Nyondo are drilling the female referees at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre, Lilongwe Community Centre Ground and Luwinga Technical Centre in Mzuzu, respectively.
“Each region has 30 females taking part in the course. We advertised the course and we targeted women aged between 18 and 30, especially retired women footballers and teachers,” he said. n
