Mikia Kalati

MASERU — Lesotho referees’ committee chairman, Thabo Pule, has congratulated four of the local match officials who have been appointed to oversee today’s 2014 African Nations championship second leg match between Angola and Mozambique in Luanda.

They played a goalless draw in the first leg match played in Maputo, Mozambique.

The four match officials are; Osias Koto, who was the fourth official, two assistants Moabi Makara and Souru Phatšoane and Central referee Matheola Makhobalo.

Pule said it’s a good thing for local football and the referees to get international exposure.

“They did very well in the Cosafa Cup youth tournament played in Botswana two years ago and the Confederations of African Football has continued to use them in different important fixtures since then,” Pule said.

“We have been in a crisis of good referees for the past two years, but I think this group is on the right track”.

He said the dream is to see referees from the country officiating important tournaments such as the African Cup of Nations in the future.

South Africa will host next year’s edition of the tournament which is for only locally based players in their respective countries.

Pule said the youngest of the four referees, Phatšoane, last month attended a referees’ course in Egypt which he feels will help improve his match officiating.

He also said they have been in talks with the premier league to try improving the working conditions of the match officials.

This is after referees went for a whole season without pay.

“We will be meeting with the premier league this coming week to finalise our talks regarding the way that referees will get their payments earlier compared to the others season,” said Pule.