Mazembe vs Bucs referee a rising star

THE official who has drawn flak from Orlando Pirates for his performance in the African Champions League clash between TP Mazembe and Orlando Pirates is rated by CAF as a rising star in the continent’s refereeing ranks.

Bernard Camille, from the Seychelles, blew the whistle at both the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa earlier this year as well as in the recent CAF Under-20 Championship in Algeria. On Sunday, Camille handed a first-half red card to Pirates skipper Lucky Lekgwathi and then awarded Mazembe two penalties, both of which were saved by Senzo Meyiwa to see Bucs through into the group stages.

The 38-year-old Camille only started officiating on the continental stage in 2011, and last year was handed a couple of assignments in the African Confederation Cup. He was also awarded the World Cup qualifiers between Central African Republic and Botswana, and Lesotho and Sao Tome e Principe, in 2012. This year he has taken a step up into more high-profile encounters, including the Nations Cup Group C clash between eventual finalists Burkina Faso and Ethiopia that was won 4-0 by the Burkinabe.

He admits himself that a lack of experience at this level has made things difficult for him, but has been taken under the wing of CAF referee head Eddie Maillet, who is also from the Seychelles. “It is not easy for a referee with only two years ’ experience as a Fifa match official, ” Camille said in a recent interview. “I must thank Eddie Maillet for always believing in me and pushing me all the way.”

Allegations of shenanigans involving referees officiating games in the DRC are commonplace.