The Namibia Football Association (NFA) says they have set aside N.dollars 1 million for match officials in 2022.

Speaking at a press conference in Windhoek on Wednesday, NFA marketing and communications manager Cassius Moeti revealed that the money ‘will be used to train, develop, mould and polish these match officials.’

His views were echoed by NFA Referees Coordinator, Absalom Goseb, who said the money will also be used to improve the remuneration of these officials.

‘We will tackle that issue next week, on Friday. We do not want to go back to the past on how much the officials were paid. We are looking at issues such as daily allowance, or match fees,’ he said.

Goseb stated that previously they had a small budget which prevented them from developing top quality referees, which in turn led them to approach the secretariat, who then increased the budget for them.

‘We then went to all 14 regions where we conducted the beginners, intermediate and advanced courses for potential referees. At the end of last year, we had an elite course which is what we would normally host, but now we will be able to have four different courses,’ he explained.

A total of 35 referees from the elite, women and young talent referees respectively have already benefitted from these courses, with the local development courses also scheduled to take place soon.

Goseb added that they are also running the technical and physical instructors referees course for regional members who will be tasked with developing the match officials at the regional level.

The event was held to announce the 11 match officials who were recently accredited by FIFA for the 2022 NFA financial year.

The 11 officials were presented with their FIFA badges and identity cards as part of their accreditation to handle international matches.

They are as follows:

Referees

Wilhem Letukwafa Haitembu (male), Naftal Negongo (m), Samuel Mayele Ngipandandulwa (m), Vistoria Shangula (female) and Twanyanyukwa Antsino (m).

Assistant referees

Eveline Lungameni (f), Matheus Kanyanga (m), Alex Muzibwane (m), Ndapewa Shilixuleni Ndapewa (f) Matheus Nevonga (m) and Lisias Festus Shaningwa.

Source: Namibia Press News Agency