Queen Manga makes Fifa referees panel

Former Brave Gladiators captain Queen Manga is now eligible to officiate at international women’s football games after being added to Fifa’s referees panel, the Namibia Football Association announced on their website on Wednesday.

Manga and seven other Namibian officials were added to Fifa’s roster for international assignments.

Gotlieb Matheus, Leston Nangombe and Jackson Pavaza are the three male referees eligible to officiate in international football matches in 2015 together with four assistant referees, making it three officials less than last year.

Nangombe in fact already featured in international action last weekend when officiating a Confederation of African Football (Caf) Champions League preliminary round clash between Mozambique side Liga Desportiva Muculmana and Rwanda’s Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Football Club (APR FC) in Maputo.

Nangombe was assisted by assistant referee Isaaskar Boois from Windhoek and Christof Vries from Keetmanshoop, while Matheus from Windhoek was the fourth official for the match, which ended goalless.

Assistant referees Jonas Kambonde and Lucas Nangolo complete the group.

Namibia Football Association (NFA) referees manager Boy-Boy Ndjadila congratulated those who made the Fifa panel and called on others to work hard to also make the grade:

“We have so much potential in this country and it is just a matter of being disciplined and committed for our referees to go further. We had 10 last year and this year we have seven which is a decline so we need more effort from the lads,” Ndjadila said.

Last year, late referee Reinhold Shikongo was among the 10 elite Namibian officials who made the Fifa list, along with Eneas Shikongo, Helmut Andreas, Jonas Shongedi, David Shaanika, Benedictus Nashenda, Matheus Kanyanga, Isaskar Boois, Alfeus Shipanga and Hendrick Swartbooi.

Ndjadila also challenged coaches to acquaint themselves with laws of the game and not risk bringing the game into disrepute due to lack of knowledge.

“The NFA referees that handle NPL matches are well equipped and based on our analyses, it is coaches that need to understand the laws of the game, especially simple things like referee’s optional time”, says Ndjadila in reference to claims that officiating in the NPL matches last weekend was not fair.