Four officials will officiate the Africa Union Sports Council (AUSC) Group V Youth Games to be staged in Angola next month, the Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development has announced.
According to the ministry’s chief sports officer Joseph Mazaza, umpire White Mlilima will officiate netball games, Isaac Phiri will be the athletics track judge, Evance Chikumbu will be judo judge while Alfred Mbuto Chilinda will be football referee.
The four will join a Malawian delegation of 54 athletes and officials heading to the event which attracts different sports codes involving 10 countries in the region.
“These officiating officials were identified by AUSC commissions for different sports descplines. We are pleased that our officials have made the grade. It means we are doing fine in the officiating aspect,” he said.
The games are expected to run from December 4 to 16. Other countries to vie for honours are South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Mozambique.
Reacting to his inclusion, Mlilima yesterday said he was humbled to be part of the games.
“It is an honour to be on the list. I am humbled because it shows that I have the trust of international organisations,” said the CivoNets coach.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) recommended Chilinda to the AUSC, according to the soccer governing body’s referees development officer Maxwell Mtonga.
“Chilinda is young and talented. We want to expose him onto the international stage where we are optimistic he is going to shine,” he said.
Malawi will not participate in team events such as football and netball due to funding limitations.
AUSC games are aimed at encouraging people to develop and come together, irrespective of colour, economic status, political, class or gender. n
