With Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches frequently marred by issues of poor officiating, Chairman of the South African Football Association’s (SAFA) National Referees Committee (NRC) Victor Gomes is calling for a focus on lessons in the rules of the game.
Emphasizing the importance of coaches having a deep understanding of the rules of the game, SAFA has made educating them a priority. The move is a forward-thinking one that Black Leopards assistant coach and football legend Papi Zothwane praised on his CAF B licensed coaching course.
Gomes also notes that the media must play a continuing role in educating people about the rules of the game.
“I would like to congratulate the media who are now using the correct terminology regarding the rules of the game. We are now demanding a training program for media and broadcasters. We want to increase the level of knowledge so that everyone has the same level of knowledge,” he added.
As the head of the country’s referees, Gomes is tasked with raising the standards of match refereeing and developing innovations that will help bring credibility to this important stakeholder. It also takes on the task of defending them against criticism.
Gomes, the best South African referee of the last decade, retired from match refereeing after the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He currently serves as Deputy Chairman of the CAF Referee Committee and was honored as a Referee legend at the COSAFA Awards last week.