Victor Hlungwani, a former PSL and FIFA referee, has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Provincial Referees Committee.
This comes after his return to the game as a match commissioner a few weeks ago.
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Hlungwani, who is now 48 years old, will oversee the training and development of referees in Gauteng for various leagues, including the ABC Motsepe league, SASOL, and the Gauteng Development League.
He will also ensure that referees meet the required standards, organize courses for match assessors and commissioners, and schedule training courses for instructors.
One of his key responsibilities will be promoting and demoting referees based on their performance in matches.
Despite not receiving a salary for this role, Hlungwani will be compensated for travel and meeting expenses.
When asked about his new position, Hlungwani expressed his willingness to serve, acknowledging the challenges and criticism faced by match officials. He is committed to making a positive impact in his new role.
Hlungwani’s appointment is seen as a positive move by the South African Football Association (SAFA) to address some of the challenges facing referees.
“It is an honor for me to be appointed in this position where I will be able to plough back using my knowledge and experience gained over the years,” Hlungwani said.
“Gauteng has produced a number of good quality referees in the past and we need to take it back to where it was.
“My first major task is to get uniform for our referees in the ABC Motsepe, SASOL and GDL. The GDL league is on TV and the uniform our referees are wearing needs urgent attention.
“We will be approaching various sportswear for assistance.”
His experience and expertise will undoubtedly benefit the development of referees in Gauteng.