Alex streaks ahead of Safa in female referees development

The Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association is streaks ahead of its mother body, the South African Football Association (Safa) when it comes to the promotion and development of female referees.

Safa has just announced that it’s embarking on a programme to accelerate the advancement of female referees. The announcement was made during the launch of a new sponsor for referees, which is a five-year R50-million partnership programme between Safa and OUTsurance aimed at improving the standard of soccer officiating.

Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association is miles ahead when it comes to the advancement of female refs, having started its own programme way back in 1997.

Although the response to the programme hasn’t been amazing, Oupa Mphekgwane of the Alex Referees Committee said they currently have four female referees on their books who officiate not only in Local Football Association (LFA) matches but are also involved in bigger games of the Sasol Women’s League, the SAB League and the ABC Motsepe League,

On their books are 24-year-old Paulette Coglin, Dineo Rachuene (24), Anny Lebepe (23) and Florence Moshupya (27). Coglin and Rachuene are both on level 2 while Lebepe and Moshupye are still to acquire their first levels and are on training courses held at the Number 3 Square Grounds.

“We are going all out in our recruitment drive and we’re working closely with the LFA, ladies’ teams around Alex and Northrand to accelerate our recruitment drive. We’re also looking to recruit in the schools,” said Mphekgwane, who added that they currently have a fledgeling refereeing programme involving boys as young as 14 years.

The Safa deal includes the formulation of a proper remuneration structure for referees, both in the Absa Premiership and the other lower division leagues which are under the control of the mother body, such as the SAB League, Sasol Women’s League and ABC Motsepe League, and also the Premier Soccer League-controlled National First Division which is a precursor to the Absa Premiership.

Besides the payment structure, the OUTsurance sponsorship will also kit out the referees while part of the money will be earmarked for the development of the match officials and ensuring they acquire the necessary licences that enable them to also participate in officiating in international matches under the jurisdiction of the Confederation of African Football and Fifa.

Safa will then use its prerogative to reserve a certain amount of the sponsorship money for the development and training of female referees.