Match officiat kit for young ref Ndifelani

“I read about the young man's enthusiasm, ambition and commitment to sport and decided to step in and arrange some tokens of motivation.”

Those were the words of the managing director of Collins Sebola Inc, Mr Collins Sebola, during a handover ceremony at his offices in Louis Trichardt on Tuesday, where he handed a match officiation kit to the young referee, Ndifelani Manenzhe. Ndifelani is a resident of Sikhodobo village outside Tshikwarani and a pupil at Mmilige Secondary School at Midoroni.

A fortnight ago, Limpopo Mirror covered the story of the 19-year-old soccer referee and his successful journey as the youngest match officer in the Makhado area. The story has since inspired many readers, who all called to congratulate and wish Ndifelani a successful journey as a soccer referee.

“The way the story was written, and how this young man's humble beginnings and a strong zeal to excel was depicted, tells me that South Africa can look up for another Ian McLeod in him,” Sebola said. “We would like to encourage him to focus on his studies while cultivating his match officiation love on the other side. We also urge him to search the Internet where he will read and study everything about the laws, regulations and rules of match officiation to expand his knowledge and skills.”

Ndifelani's mentor and an official attached to the Makhado Local Football Association, Mr Mpfariseni Musekwa, said that the kit would go a long way not only in being tools of work for Ndifelani but as tokens of motivation.

Mamu Community Development's general secretary, Mr Jafter Mamugudubi, said that the organisation had noticed Ndifelani's amazing approach to and skills in match officiation and that they would also continue to support him.

Sport - Date: 05 November 2018

Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

Email: [email protected]