Abdul Ebrahim, the head of referees at SAFA, recently shared insights on the preparedness of match officials following the pre-season workshop that wrapped up last week.

The workshop saw participation from over 123 match officials, match commissioners, and instructors.

Everyone in attendance completed a category one fitness test, setting the stage for the upcoming season.

Upcoming Matches and New Rules

With the 2024/25 season already underway, fans are looking forward to more action.

Last weekend featured two MTN8 fixtures, and this weekend promises more excitement as Sekhukhune United takes on Cape Town City FC, and Mamelodi Sundowns faces Polokwane City FC on Sunday.

During the national workshops held in Pretoria, officials were briefed on the latest updates to the game’s laws, including new handball and offside rules, as well as FIFA’s latest refereeing concepts aligned with global trends, Ebrahim told FARPost.

Ebrahim expressed confidence in the officials’ preparation. “We always feel confident that we’ve equipped our match officials with everything they need for high-level officiating,” he said.

“We’re confident at the beginning of every season that our officials will deliver. We now just need to see how well they apply this information during matches.”

Opportunities for Improvement

Ebrahim also addressed the issue of those who didn’t pass the fitness tests. While he didn’t disclose names, he mentioned that these officials would be given another chance in about 6 to 7 weeks to retake the tests.

“Unfortunately, some officials were unsuccessful,” Ebrahim noted.

“For them, we’ll offer another opportunity to retake the tests. They should use this time to address any injury issues to improve their chances and potentially be reconsidered for the National Panel.”

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