The Football Association of Malawi has urged Malawian elite referees to preserve the profession integrity  in the country by avoiding any kind of interference while on duty.

FAM President Walter Nyamilandu Manda said this on Friday morning when he closed a five-day FIFA MA Elite Referee’s Course at Mpira Village in Blantyre.

Nyamilandu said the refereeing profession is sacred and demands moral governance hence the need for the  referees to be cautious.

“Referees are in charge of the match and have all the powers to either make or break the match.  This is the reason we are training you to never abuse that power but exercise it with caution and integrity because you hold the future of clubs, players, and football in general. Your decisions shape the future.

“We have had very recommendable feedback internationally but there is need to do more locally  so that we preserve that integrity.

“As FAM, we are committed  to improve the capability of our referees because we want them to be competent both locally and internationally.  Always remember that what you do on and off the pitch can  destroy  future  and we don’t want that to happen to you,” said Nyamilandu. 

Nyamilandu further encouraged the referees to be united and be hungry for knowledge by  investing in research.

South African FIFA Referees Technical Instructor Carlos Henriques commended the referees for being great participants during the course and has urged them to continue working hard both on and off the field.

In his remarks, one of the participants FIFA Referee Godfrey Nkhakananga applauded FAM and FIFA for the course saying this will enhance their competition with referees from other countries.

“We have been longing for this course since it’s been three years without  such a course but now we are happy that we have updated our database in as a far refereeing is concerned, thanks to FAM and FIFA. 

“As we go back, we will help in grooming fellow referees who did not have a chance to participate in the course,” he said. 

The course attracted 29 referees from across the country .