World Cup is within reach
...Chimene's star shines brightly
IN the midst of a second and more deadly wave of the Covid- 19 pandemic that has not spared even the Warriors camp ahead of the Chan competition, Rusape- born Fifa panel referee, Brighton Chimene, is silently providing a rare feel good Zimbabwean football success story on the international stage.
Chimene was the centre referee as Kaiser Chiefs Class of 2020 wrote their own piece of history by becoming the first Amakhosi group to reach the mini- league phase of the revered competition.
Amakhosi edged Angolan side, Primeiro de Agosto 1- 0 on aggregate in their CAF Champions League tie.
With the first leg at the FNB Stadium in South Africa finishing goalless, Chiefs had to earn their victory by travelling to Angola to complete the job 1- 0 on Tuesday.
While Amakhosi made history for themselves, Chimene was also in the thick of things, not only building up on his personal profile, but refreshingly ensuring that the world at least remembers that the game of football is still alive in Zimbabwe.
No wonder Zimbabwe Referee’s Committee chairman, Brighton Malandule believes that the country’s hopes of having its next match official at the World Cup lies in the soft spoken and unassuming, yet firm Rusape referee.
Brighton Mudzamiri is the only Zimbabwean referee to officiate at the World Cup as an assistant referee.
“If Chimene continues with his brilliant performances he is our hope for a match official at the World Cup.
“We hope he maintains a cool head. A lot of discipline and dedication is needed. There can be co- options in between apart from the normal periodic selections and we hope that can happen to Chimene. What is key is that given a chance our officials must perform to the highest level and get good marks from referees assessors,” said Malandule.
Given that he joined the Fifa panel in 2019 and has just turned 31, age is firmly on his side, apart from his trademark flawless performances.
Male referees on the Fifa Panel in Zimbabwe are Chimene, Norman Matemera, Prince Mathumo and Lawrence Zimondi, while assistant referees are Luckson Mhara, Salani Ncube, Thomas Kusosa, Tafadzwa Nkala, Brighton Nyika and Edgar Rumeck.
Lady referees include Thanks Nyahuye and Mercy Maimbo, while assistant referees include Stella Ruvinga, Claris Simango and Faith Mloyi.
According to a list of referees released by Fifa, 81 match officials from six confederations will be in charge of matches at the next World Cup finals that are set to run from November 21 to December 18, featuring a record 32 teams, up from 24.
Zimbabwe won’t have any referee at the 2022 showpiece in Qatar.
Africa will be represented by eight referees, with three, Ghead Grisha from Egypt, Bamlak Tessema from Ethiopia and Bakary Gassama from Gambia as Video Assistant Referees ( VAR).
The other six referees that made it into the elite class are Ndala Ngambo from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Redouane Jiyed from Morocco, South African Victor Gomes, Maguette Ndiaye from Senegal and Sadok Selmi from Tunisia.
Uefa, will once again provide the highest number of match officials with 12 field referees and 14 VAR.