SEDIBENG.- Former top Premier Soccer League (PSL) referee, Jonas “Samora’ Nhlapo is back in football.
He is now serving football in the development stages, grassroots, in Gauteng. Sedibeng Ster Sports spotted Nhlapo at the Gauteng Development League (GDL) match between Remember Elite Sports Academy (RESA) and NWU Vaal FC at President Park in Vereeniging on Saturday. Nhlapo confirmed to Sedibeng Ster Sport that he has been involved with the GDL as a match commissioner.
Nhlapo was one of the top referees in the country officiating at the highest level of football. This was before he “retired” from top-flight football under controversial circumstance. He put Sedibeng (Vaal) on the map as one of the best referees in South African football to have come from this region. He was a notable figure, a no-nonsense referee who was brave enough to send both players and coaches to the stands if they misbehaved.
He was not intimidated by the so-called big names, players or coaches. Sedibeng Ster Sports, can recall one of the incidents when he gave former Kaizer Chiefs coach Ted Dumitru his marching orders in a televised Premier Soccer League (PSL) match. To make it interesting, he was one of the fittest match officials to officiate in PSL even though he was not lucky enough to be named the referee of the season.
Nhlapo told Sedibeng Ster Sport, that he was happy to be back and serve football at this level.
“I’m excited at being involved at this level of football which is development, and I enjoy each and every moment of it. Look, football is my passion, my life, and it will always be my first priority. These young referees respect me because they know who I am because some of them used to see me on television. I’m here to help them to realise their dreams to officiate at the highest level of football. This sport made me the person who I’m today. If it wasn’t of football, I don’t think I would be here today. In fact, football gave me everything, I mean everything,” said Nhlapo.
