MASERU — Lesotho Premier League and A Division referees will tomorrow undergo a Fifa elite referees’ refresher course which begins at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena. The elite course will be conducted by Fifa instructors, Felix Tangawarima (Zimbabwe), Carlos Henriques (South Africa), and Ephraim Mzengo (Malawi) and will be assisted by local fitness instructor Moholi Tsoinyane.
The course will commence with a physical fitness assessment tomorrow. Lesotho Referees Association chairman, Baba Malephane, told the Sunday Express that the course will help improve the standards of refereeing in the country.
“We usually have this course every year to give new referees a chance to learn from international instructors,” Malephane said. “It is always good to conduct courses for our referees, especially those that have been promoted to officiate in premier league and A Division matches.”
Malephane, who is also Lefa’s public relations officer, told this paper that they will soon unveil the names of referees to officiate in international matches. “Possibilities are very high that we will have an increased number in the Fifa panel after discussions with relevant authorities,” he said. “We have already made the list of referees that will represent the country in both the Fifa and Caf list,” he said.
Nteboheleng Setoko, who last week became the first female referee to officiate in a cup final in this country, will also be among the participants. Mohau Sentšo, who is one of Lesotho’s top referees, urged his young colleagues to take the course seriously. “I have been very lucky to have been in many of these courses. “They have helped me to prepare for regional and continental matches since my appointment as an international referee in 2000,” Sentšo said.
He said officiating in international games comes with a lot of challenges, but was able to stand tall because of what he learned from Fifa instructors, who themselves were once international referees. “It is always important to know the laws of the game and maintain the fitness level which is very important in refereeing,” he said. The course will be conducted in two categories, the theory which carries 40 percent and the practical aspect taking 60 percent.
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