Victor Hlungwane bids farewell to refereeing
Well-known referee Victor Hlungwane said just because he has retired, does not mean he is leaving the football fraternity altogether.
LIMPOPO – Well-known professional football referee Victor Hlungwane officially retired.
Hlungwane, who is a teacher by profession, hung up his whistle the end of June and joined local referee Philip Tinyani in retirement. Hlungwane’s refereeing career started when the Giyani East Football Association was in search for referees in the early 90s and the senior men did not volunteer to attend the referee’s course.
“It was at a club meeting and I stood up and said, ‘give it to me’. Everyone in attendance laughed as I was only 15 years old and players used to assault referees. Eventually, when no one else volunteered, they agreed to send me for the course,” he said.
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Previously, Hlungwane officiated in the Great Northern East Province, now South African Football Association (Safa) Vhembe, with the likes of Tshikonelo Nekhubvi, Israel Maphaha, Tinyani and Rudzani Mulaudzi. He obtained a sport leader certificate from the National Sport Council in 1997, as well as a coaching certificate from Safa in 1998. In 2003, he qualified as a referee for the high national certificate for theory soccer laws.
Highlights of his career include the MTN Top 8 Cup final between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium, as well as a match between Gabon and Brazil in Brazzaville, which opened the stadium that hosted the final of the Africa Cup Of Nations 2012.
“To referee these matches was an honour for me, as it came unexpectedly. I had to quickly learn how to tell a player to calm down in French and Portuguese. I was honoured to be appointed as fourth official for the Super Cup final between Esperance in Tunisia and a team from Morocco in February, where I got my first CAF [Confederation of African Football] medal. I also refereed the Mbada Diamond Cup semifinal between Dynamos and Platinum FC in Bulawayo.”
Asked what he plans to do after retiring, Hlungwane said he was still undecided. He added that just because he quit refereeing does not mean he would be out of the football fraternity altogether. He explained he will either work as a match commissioner, referees’ instructor or physical trainer. He appealed to the youth who wish to pursue a career in football refereeing to be self-disciplined in order to avoid situations where they fall into the temptation of taking bribes.
