5 refs chopped off fifa list, Rafael, others replaced
Rafael Antony, Jones Makuwira and Linda Chikuni are among five big name referees Fifa has replaced on Malawi’s 15-member quota for 2015 international referees and assistants.
The dropped referees cannot handle domestic high profile and international matches.
However, FAM referees development officer Maxwell Mtonga and National Referees Committee (NRC) general secretary Chris Kalichero said they are yet to receive Fifa’s official list.
“Nothing has changed really [on the size of the quota] apart from the change in personnel. However, this list is unofficial. Talk to Mr. James Mwenda [FAM referees committee chairperson],” insisted Mtonga yesterday following the list released on Fifa Referees News website.
Mwenda, who is also yet to get Fifa communication asked for more time to consult. However, he earlier said Fifa has a final say on the choice based on variables such as age and performance. The excluded referees can be considered in 2016 if they impress on these aspects.
In a development that compromises officiation quality, Antony’s exclusion has left the Southern Region with only Dennis Nguluwe as a Fifa-rated referee.
Rafael, who was penalised for failing to record a name of a yellow carded player, has been replaced by Mabvuto Msimuko from the Northern Region. Jones Makuwira has also lost his place on the list to Patrick Ngoleka from the Central Region. Nguluwe has survived alongside the Duncan Lengani from the Central Region.
Men’s assistant list has also seen Kelvin Ngolanga, who is reportedly pre-occupied, replaced by Jonizio Luwizi (North) while newcomer Edward Kambatuwa of Salima has stepped in for Victor Nkhata who failed a fitness test. The list of assistants has survivors Clement Kanduku, Innocent Kaundula and Feston Kusekuse.
Women referees’ quota has Linda Chikuni dropped for Mercy Mziya whereas Grace Msika, who handles TNM Super League games, has retained her status. The retained and dropped referees were reluctant to comment in the absence of official communication from FAM.he women assistant referees’ band has also seen the exclusion of Chikondi Mpindo. She has been replaced by Charity Ndovi who joins Happiness Mbandambanda and Bernadettar Kwimbira.
Most of the dropped referees failed the Fifa Fitness test, others did not show up whereas Makuwira has been deleted despite passing the test. The dropped referees cannot officiate any international game.
Bester Kalombo is the last Malawian male referee to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals and Olympic Games. Last week, Kalombo attributed the referees’ local struggles to poor education background, saying: “people tend not to like my statement that education levels of most of our current referees are low.”
In the recent past, since Moffat Champiti’s retirement, no Malawian male referee has been selected to officiate at the 2013 and 2015 Afcon qualifiers and finals. For women, Kwimbira officiates in most continental and world events.
