Two out of 33 male and female referees flopped in the 2015 Fifa Fitness Test held at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre yesterday morning.
The impressive performance assures the referees of handling top-flight and international games. The referees who have failed cannot be considered for such games.
Middle referee Grace Msiska failed in her third successive attempt alongside assistant referee Oliver Chimera during the punishing test which Fifa instructors Henrik Carlos, Felix Tangawarima and Mark Mzengo conducted with the local expertise of national fitness instructor MoffatChampiti and legendary Bester Kalombo.
“I think this is the beginning of good things to come. Our referees are getting to the level of CAF and Fifa standards. The results prove this,” Champiti said.
All 23 male middle referees and assistant referees such as FestonKusekuese passed the test which will be followed by a similar exercise to be hosted by FAM this August across the country.
“It is all down to hard work,” Kusekuse said about the test which, among others, requires one to cover 12 laps each of 150 metres in 30 seconds each sandwiched by a breather of 40 seconds.
The test was followed by a closing ceremony for referees assessors refresher course at FAM’s Chiwembe Technical Centre and also the opening ceremony for Elite Referees Course.
