Macra approves referees’ gadgets, sets conditions
the league launch in April
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has spelt out conditions for domestic referees’ use of wireless telecommunication gadgets which TNM bought to help to improve TNM Super League officiation.
Blessings Phumisa, from Macra public relations office, confirmed the specifications in a response to The Nation’s questionnaire on the K4 million gadgets.
“After full consideration of the technical requirements required for any Type Approval process and the subsequent payment of the Type Approval fees, Macra has approved the use of the equipment on condition that the equipment is used for its intended purpose within the specified range i.e. communication on football pitches by the officiating personnel,” Phumisa specified.
Meant to help minimise poor officiation, the brand of equipment in question is the Comstar Digital Full Duplex Wireless System with Seven Headsets, he wrote recently. Phumisa added that the equipment is classified within the short range devices (SRD) category, hence the applicable frequencies will only operate within the specified range.
Sulom general secretary Williams Banda has since said referees have started training in the use of the equipment.
It is expected that the referees will start using it in the second round of the season which enters 10th round next weekend.
Banda on Saturday said the training started on Friday in Mzuzu, before extending to Lilongwe over the weekend while Blantyre’s turn is on June 28 2014. FAM referees development officer Maxwell Mtonga is in charge of the training.
Zomba referee Bernadetter Kwimbira welcomed the training, adding that the usage of the gadgets would go a long way in instant decision-making. Kwimbira counts herself fortunate to have sampled such equipment on her international assignments.
“It makes communication easy. For example, some incidents that happen out of the view of the referees, but spotted by the assistant referee,” she said.
Epac’s penalty winning goal against Big Bullets last Sunday sparked violence as the visiting side questioned Roy Williams’ officiation.
