While there has been an outcry over match officiating, former PSL referee Peter Mabuza has named South Africa’s top-performing official.
The officials have faced a lot of scrutiny from different sections for their blunders in both the DStv Premiership and Motsepe Foundation Championship. Mabuza has picked a local ref as an outstanding match official whom he says barely gets decisions wrong.
The referee in question has officiated in two FIFA World Cup tournaments. In Russia 2018 as well as the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
WHO IS SOUTH AFRICA’S TOP-PERFORMING OFFICIAL ACCORDING TO MABUZA?
“For me, it’s Zakhele Siwela,” Mabuza told FARPost. “That one knows his story, he is very good. I don’t recall any incident in which Siwela was wrong, he is always spot on.
“But these other match officials, all of them if I have to say so. They are inconsistent but Siwela is always spot on,” he said.
RETIRED MATCH OFFICIAL WILLING TO ASSIST SAFA IN IMPROVING THE STANDARD
Mabuza says he is willing to assist SAFA in whatever capacity to help improve the standard of match officiating in the country.
“Remember I am the only referee, Abdul [Ebrahim] was my assistant, whereby we officiated in the World XI against Africa XI in Cape Town. Nelson Mandela was there, everyone was there.
“If you go to the SAFA House now you will see my big picture there. The only referee [to officiate in that kind of match]. So I am waiting for SAFA if they call to assist in whatever, I am ready for that. I don’t have any problem with that. But I understand the politics, you are injured, and they forget about you. But I am happy that you still remember that Peter Mabuza was there and I appreciate that.”
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