Referee Akhona Makalima says she is fed up with her selection to officiate at the FIFA Women’s World Cup which will be held in Australia and New Zealand later this year.
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Makalima, who is one of the leading referees in the country, praised the South African Football Association (Safa) for working hard to bring the standard of officiating in the country to a high level.
“You will be satisfied if you do all the hard work and you will reap the benefits. Safa and many officials have worked hard to improve officiating in the country and the number of officials appointed for FIFA and Caf tournaments is proof of the hard work of the Association and officials,” Makalima said. .
”My heart is full of joy and gratitude. This is what we all strive for as match officials – officiating on the biggest stage and I really want to thank everyone involved in this project for the job done. I am completely overwhelmed with emotions, words cannot express my happiness,” she added.
Makalima will be officiating at a global tournament for the first time and she will represent the continent alongside Togo’s Vincentia Amedome, Morocco’s Bouchra Karboubi and Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga.
The Eastern Cape-born referee will head to a seminar in Doha, Qatar as part of the build-up to the competition, where Banyana Banyana will also compete from July 20 to August 20.
While Makalima will be officiating at the World Cup for the first time, this will be the second time Banyana will participate in the tournament after finishing first back in 2018 in France.