09/10/2025
FAZ HOLDS FIRST-EVER REFEREES ASSESSOR COURSE AS 34 EARN FIFA CERTIFICATION
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has successfully conducted its first-ever Referees Assessor Course under the supervision of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), marking a historic milestone in the country’s football development agenda.
FAZ President Keith Mweemba says refereeing remains one of the key pillars of football development that his administration is prioritizing, as part of efforts to professionalize and modernize the Zambian game.
It is not a secret that refereeing matters formed part of the pillars of my campaign message when I sought office,” Mweemba said. “It is not by accident that in the few months we have been in office, we have kept the match officiating agenda at the top of football discourse.
He noted that FAZ, working closely with FIFA, CAF, and COSAFA, has been advancing key initiatives such as the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system and the revision of match officiating fees to enhance referee welfare.
We are happy that the selected candidates reflect some of the best referees we have had in our game,” Mweemba added. “Incorporating assessors is part of ensuring we tap into the expertise of former referees. The role of a referee assessor is not only to evaluate performance but also to mentor and guide referees to meet the highest standards of the game.
He emphasized that the assessor course is designed to equip participants with modern tools, updated methodologies, and international best practices, thereby strengthening teamwork and accountability within the refereeing structure.
A total of 34 Referees Assessors have now received FIFA certification, with 40 more candidates expected to participate in the second stream next week.
Meanwhile, FIFA Instructor and COSAFA Head of Referees Felix Tangawarima commended FAZ for investing in referee development, saying Zambia’s efforts would soon yield more international opportunities for its match officials.
If referees continue with what they have promised and what I have seen, we will soon see many of them going beyond Zambia’s borders to officiate across Africa,” Tangawarima said. “Zambia is supporting FIFA, COSAFA, and CAF with quality referees, and this is a reflection of the progress being made.
He highlighted Zambia’s growing regional influence, noting that the country had recently sent two sets of men’s referees to officiate in CAF Champions League matches simultaneously—a rare achievement that showcases Zambia’s growing stature in African football.
This demonstrates that your executive is doing its job. Not only the male referees, but even the women are being recognized continentally,” he said. “With top instructors like Janny Sikazwe and Gladys Lengwe consistently engaged at continental and global levels, Zambia is already breaking new ground in refereeing excellence
FAZ’s initiative marks another major step in strengthening match officiating standards, fostering fair play, integrity, and professionalism across all levels of Zambian football.
