Best referee Pavaza aims high
After winning the 2016 Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) Referee of the Year award last week, FIFA referee Jackson Pavaza said he will continue to work hard to improve his game and called on the local game to get going as soon as possible.
“I have always done my best on the pitch and for me to have this award drives me to deliver more and do what I love. It is something special for me and I will always cherish this for years to come. I dream of being at bigger tournaments like the AFCON or the World Cup and I keep my dream alive and I know it means hard work and more games to be assessed and recommended,” said Pavaza.
He however adds that the dormant local football was a setback for his career as he needs to do well at home before getting those international appointments.
“CAF and FIFA considers how active you are locally and with our league infinitely off, one cannot say. I can only hope and pray that we get the ball rolling soon so that we are still considered to share our knowledge of the game abroad and learn more to improve the game at home as well,” he said.
Furthermore, Pavaza also revealed that local referees have been summoned by the NFA to attend a FIFA Member Association (MA) Referees course next week and he was looking forward to it.
“It will be good for us to come together again as we start with a fitness test on Sunday in Windhoek and then from Monday we attend classes up to Friday, to update our knowledge and see how far we have come and can go,” he said.
“Namibian refereeing has the right combination for progression and will help the game of football evolve for the better and officials are ready to work whenever the new football season commences.” These are the sentiments of FIFA Referees Instructor Felix Tangawarima who conducted the five-day FIFA Member Association Referees Course at Football House in Windhoek.
At the closing of the course, Tangawarima expressed satisfaction with the discipline of Namibian referees and the right combination of people which can only augur well for progression.
“I see some 19 and 20 year olds which is very good because it means that for many more years to come you will have good referees. Their technical and theoretical ability is very promising and with the right support Namibia will remain blessed with referees,” said Tangawarima.
The renowned referee instructor Tangawarima called on the whistle men to remain disciplined at all times and ensure the right communication of the changes to the laws of the game.
“Players and club officials need to read and understand these new rules as well as their impact on how you officiate and ,I trust the NFA will channel it through to all stakeholders so that it works smoothly. Do not officiate games that are not sanctioned by the NFA as you are representing the Association. Remain professionals. You are not politicians but technical people,” he added.
