“We are as capable as men”

“My love for football started at an early age playing street football with the boys. I played for a boys’ team called Two-for-Join. It was later changed to City Star FC. This is where I learned the basics,” Ngobeni told the Herald.

She says she later joined a girls’ team called Sisters that was coached by Monica Mathonsi. While playing for Sister, she was selected for the Limpopo team twice. “But since I started ladies’ football later in life, I was too old and wasn’t selected again. She says Mathonsi saw the potential in her.

“By that time she was working at Safa Mopani. In 2009 there was a referees programme in Nkowankowa. “They were hosting a mini referee’s workshop which I attended.” The following year she attended a national workshop at Karibu Lodge. That’s where I wrote my first level and passed,” said Ngobeni.

She was noticed by the Tzaneen Local Football Association and was invited to officiate at a few events. Her passion for refereeing started from there. “Safa’s regional office called me to attend a fitness programme to officiate at the regional SAB tournament. The first time I failed. I was recalled and passed the fitness test,” said Ngobeni.

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“I was included on the SAB national panel of referees. Again I had to do a fitness test to officiate at ABC Motsepe tournaments as well as in the Sasol League. I failed so many times that I considered giving up.” She says again Mathonsi came through for her and advised her not to give up as she saw the potential in her to be a good referee.

“Challenges are there to build us,” she said. Last year she was again called to do the national fitness test, which she passed, which allowed her to officiate in the ABC Motsepe Foundation, Sasol League, and Hollywood Bets Super League tournaments. “I again invited to attend a national workshop where we learnt more about refereeing career.

“You have to pass the fitness test each season to stay on the panel. If you fail, you are taken off the panel. We also have to study the rules and our knowledge is tested in writing. We must be able to understand and interpret the laws of the game,” she said. “If you are selected to referee a men’s match, you may sometimes find that players may undermine or try to intimidate you.

You must be brave and strong enough to stand your ground. Some men feel we are not capable of running the game, but the reality is that we are just as good as they are.”