LOCAL female assistant referee, Nandipha Menze, from Whittlesea just outside Komani, is one of the large contingent of officials who have been lined up for this year’s international football duty list.
For the first time in many seasons, the South African Football Association will have 20 match officials on the international panel this year.
This comes after world football governing body, FIFA, in December announced eight South African referees, 10 assistant referees and two video assistant referees on the panel.
Four of the match officials are women – two referees and two assistants.
Menze, who is an assistant referee in the Premier Soccer League, is one the officials who will be on duty on the international stage.
Menze started officiating in the local SAB Regional League, which falls under SAFA Chris Hani, before she was promoted to the Provincial Sasol Women’s League and ABC Motsepe League games in the Eastern Cape.
The 31-year-old also played football in school, before joining the ABSA Women’s League team, Lukhanji Ladies Football Club, in Whittlesea.
Menze said she was honoured and humbled for the opportunity to carry the flag on the lines on the international stage.
“I am deeply honoured and humbled to have been selected to run up and down the line in the bigger stage of the game.
“It took a lot of hard work and sacrifice to get here. Being a woman, you have to work even harder because this a male-dominated sport, but what makes me happy is the fact that SAFA treats us equally,” said an excited Menze.
The list of referees also includes Akhona Makalima, who also started officiating football games in the Komani area.
