By GWEN CHIPASULA –
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) will today conduct an exclusive women Referees FIFA training course that has attracted well over 30 participants.
FAZ communications manager Nkweto Tembwe said in an interview yesterday that Football House was excited with the programme as it will be the first one of its kind specifically designed for women referees.
Tembwe said referees likes Gladys Lengwe and others have bought positive attention of FIFA to the country through their professionalism in handling matches locally and internationally.
He said the elite training course which will run for a week will incorporate referees who are already practicing under In the Super and Division One leagues.
“The hard working office of the referees’ manager has once again scored first by convincing FIFA to come and pay attention to our women. Our refereeing programmes have been going on well so far.
“You will remember that earlier in the year, FIFA was here training match assessors and also offering Elite referring course to Zambians, and they are back again with this one,” he said.
He said the training will accommodate women referees from across the country who will concentrate on physical training and laws of the game.
Tembwe said FAZ was happy because Zambia has become a beacon in terms of women refereeing not just in Africa but also in the World.
He said that with the proposed new structure of the league, the demand for more proficient referees cannot be over emphasised.
“We want to have as many referees as possible, so this programme is very important to FAZ and the country as well,” he said.