Referees Body Conducts Physical Fitness Test in Northern Region

By Vinjeru Betera Mkandawire……

National Referees body conducted a two days fitness test at Karonga and Mzuzu stadium in the northern region during the weekend.

Over hundred center Referees and assistants participated in this test from both venues and five failed at Mzuzu stadium and four failed at Karonga stadium.

Speaking to the media, Referees’ manager Fredrick Khoropa was excited with the turn out of Referees this time.

“I am very excited with the turn out this is my first time to see a large group of Referees coming for the test and we are excited that our referees are coping up with the physical fitness test as you can see it is not easy to complete the test but almost the majority passed the test which is a good sign” he said

Furthermore Khoropa said that he is impressed with the turn out of youthful referees and alot of them have good educational background.

“This is what we have been advocating that we should be having more youthful referees in our country so they can be learning step by step and become great referee as you know to be selected to be one of Fifa referees you need to have a ten years experience so if they start at a younger age it is good for their growth and also am impressed with the educational background of many Referees here some have degrees and diplomas which is very good because being a referee goes hand in hand with school so this a very big news to have them on board” he lamented

North Referees Regional General Secretary, Piason Kamanga said that they are excited with the massive turn out and they are ready to deploy what they have learnt.

“For the first we have seen a massive turnout because we were told by our superiors that each and everyone must attend the test if they want to be allocated official matches this season thats why you have seen a large turn out and as northern region referees committee we are ready and we will make sure that everything which has been done here should be implemented” he said

Representing Football Association of Malawi, Regional Development Officer Robert Mzinza recommended the Referees body for coming up with the test as it will help to unearth new talent which might be needed in the game of football.

“I have seen alot of youth Referees today which is very good as you know recently African Schools Championship was launched here in Malawi and we were advised that this tournament should be handled by youth Referees and seeing alot of them today doing well makes us proud as a mother body and lastly am happy with the larger number of Referees I have seen today which is very good since we have alot of cups coming up this season which might also need alot of referees” he concluded