4 December 2024 – South African match officials Jelly Chavani and Luxolo Badi have been invited by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to be part of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) Preparation Course being held in Cairo, Egypt, this week.
The next edition of CHAN will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 1–28 February 2025 and the Preparation Course is currently underway until 9 December 2024. Chavani and Badi are among the list of match officials that have been selected from across the continent to undergo physical, theoretical, and technical tests in preparation for the tournament next year.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) National Referees Committee and the Referees Department have also congratulated the many other officials who have been flying the South African flag high in various events in 2024.
South Africa will be well represented in the COSAFA U17 Male and Female Championships in Johannesburg from 4 December to 13 December 2024. Maneo Evodia Tau, Kwandile Somtsai, Hloniphile Msezane, Luvhengo Maduvha, Thato Joseph Makgoga will be officiating in the regional tournament. Nandipha Menze and Nonjabulo Nonhle Ndlela are also part of the tournament.
As if that was not enough, Abongile Tom and Akhona Makalima were invited to the 2nd CAF Professional Referees Course in Egypt last month. Ndlela, Menze, Tau and Lufuno Nemagovhani also officiated in the recent COSAFA U20 Women Championships in Johannesburg.
“South African match officials are making significant strides on the international football scene, with a growing number of invitations and appointments for various CAF assignments and COSAFA competitions. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication and hard work of these officials, both on and off the field,” said the SAFA National Referees Committee.
“The National Referees Committee of the South African Football Association is proud to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the referee assessors, technical and physical coaches, and various referees’ sub-committees. Their tireless efforts in training and mentoring match officials have ensured that they remain at the forefront of modern refereeing trends and concepts.
“This recognition underscores the high standards of South African refereeing and reinforces the country’s position as a leading football nation. SAFA remains committed to supporting and developing our match officials, providing them with the necessary resources and training to excel at the highest level.”
South African Football: They represent South Africa in international men’s football.