Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has urged 2023 FIFA listed referees to be objective in discharging their duties.

FAM Executive Committee Member and Chairperson of the Referees Subcommittee Rashid Ntelera said this on Monday when he presided over the presentation of 2023 FIFA badges to the referees at Sunbird Livingstonia Hotel in Salima.

Ntelera said the referees represent Malawi whenever on international assignment hence the need for them to refrain from being influenced by other people in their work.

“We are happy that FIFA fulfilled our obligation and today we have presented the badges to the referees ahead of the 2023 assignments.

“As FAM, we commend to the referees for the good job that they always do when given international assignments which has made most them maintain their badges for years. We are happy that they have maintained the standards because we always get positive reports from the international assignments.

“We have reminded the referees to always remember that once  they are in the field, they are the leaders of the game and everything that happens there depends on the decisions they make hence the need for them to be as objective as possible. As people in charge of the match, they have to be decisive and stand by the laws of the game and not changing decisions because supporters are yelling on the stands. The country is always at stake because they are our representatives and they need to preserve our integrity,” he said.

Apart from the 15 slots allocated for Malawi, FIFA has for the first time approved two referees on the 2023 Beach Soccer Referees list and Ntelera said this is a motivation for the association to continue developing Beach Soccer in the country at all levels.

“It is very motivating that we now have Beach Soccer Referees on the international list having qualified for Beach Soccer Afcon for the first time in 2022. This shows that Malawian Beach Soccer is being recognised so much as we are developing on the pitch,” said Ntelera.

Below is the full list of approved FIFA Referees for 2023

Center Referees

1. Godfrey Nkhakananga

2. Gift Chicco

3. Mercy Kayira

4.Easter Zimba

5. Eness Gumbo

6. Newton Nyirenda

Assistant referees

7. Bernadettar Kwimbira

8. Clemence Kanduku

9. Eliza Sichinga

10. Pondamali Tembo

11. Happiness Mbandambanda

12. Edward Kambatuwa

13. Joseph Nyauti

14. Jonizio Luwizi

15. Evance Msonda

Beach Soccer Referees

Mathews Ngwira

Rose Zimba