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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter

ONCE again some Zimbabwean football referees on the FIFA panel will be handling international assignments in the CAF Champions League this weekend.

Lawrence Zimondi will be the centre referee in Luanda, Angola, on Saturday afternoon, in the match between Grupo Desportivo Interclube and Zanzibar side Mafunzo SC.

He will be assisted by Tafadzwa Nkala and Edgar Rumeck.

Prince Mathumo will be the fourth official.

Despite the prolonged lockdown which ended last week, local referees are getting appointments. This is an indication that the efforts being put by the Referees Committee chaired by ZIFA executive member Brighton Malandule are being recognised.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwean female representative Faith Mloyi has been invited to attend the women’s Champions League preparation course to be held in Egypt in November.

Should Mloyi do well at the course, she will be part of the referees that will officiate at the inaugural women’s CAF Champions League in Cairo.

Mloyi was selected by CAF and will be among 19 assistant referees that will attend the course. 20 referees will also attend as centre referees and Zimbabwe will be represented by Mloyi.

Before she travels to Egypt for the refresher course, Mloyi is set to officiate at the women’s COSAFA Championships to be held at Nelson Mandela Bay from September 28 to October 9 in South Africa.

According to the communication sent out to ZIFA, CAF will meet the travel costs but in the event that the referee fails to pass the fitness test, all the related costs to the trip will be borne by the referees’ association and the match official will be sent back home.

The referees will undergo physical, theoretical, and technical tests during the course.

Malandule said they are happy with the recognition.

“As ZIFA Referees Committee, we are happy that our referees are getting continental recognition which is a testimony that the investment we are putting in training activities is bearing fruit.

“Faith Mloyi will represent Zimbabwe if she does well she may officiate at the Women’s champions league tournament,” said Malandule.