Referees receive FIFA badges for the year

The 10 match officials who made FIFA’s list for accreditation for the year were given their badges earlier this month. In a speech delivered by Boy-Boy Ndjadila on behalf of the acting chairman of the Namibia Football Association’s (NFA) referees’ desk, Matheus Amadhila, he commended the match officials for making the list. “This achievement comes from hard work and dedication and it certainly did not come on a silver platter,” read Amadhila’s speech. “I am encouraging you to take your refereeing career seriously and be exemplary to others.” Among those who made the list were renowned referee Reinhold Shikongo, who was joined by two other revered names in Helmut Andreas (Walvis Bay) and Jonas Shongedi (Oshakati). David Shaanika (Tsandi), Benedictus Nashenda, Matheus Kanyanga, Isaskar Boois, (all Windhoek), Alfeus Shipanga (Rundu) and Hendrick Swartbooi (Berseba) also made the list. The 34-year-old Eneas Shikongo, who officiated at the Cosafa Under-20 Championships in Lesotho in December last year, was the only new official to get his badge. While Amadhila admitted that his office does have some shortcomings, he also encouraged the referees to keep up their good work. “Despite the shortcomings in our NFA referees’ desk, we must nevertheless work together and support each other [and in due course], we will overcome this shortcoming of resources,” he said. WINDHOEK-SPORT REPORTER