Onsport Reporter
DESPITE the recent red flag on some local referees, Caf has appointed Brighton Chimene to officiate at the African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament to be hosted by Kenya Tanzania and Uganda from August 2-30.
He becomes the first Zimbabwean referee to officiate at the Chan finals.
Zifa announced today that the four-time-referee-of-the-year, will be among Africa’s top match officials to take charge at thr tournament.
“He becomes the first Zimbabwean to referee at a CHAN tournament finals and the first to officiate at a major continental showpiece since Kenny Marange at AFCON 2008. A landmark moment for Zimbabwean officiating and a proud chapter for local football,” Zifa said.
In January, Chimene was elevated to the ‘Elite B’ class on the Fifa panel after a good season last year, when he was voted referee of the year and officiated regionally.
Last year he was in charge of the Fifa World Cup qualifier tie pitting Libya and Mauritius and the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Tanzania and Guinea.
He took charge of the Chan qualifier match between Angola and Lesotho and also the Caf Champions League tie featuring Arta Solar of Djibout and Dekadaha of Somalia.
Chimene also officiated at Cosafa in the seniors’ tournament and Under-20 and Under-20 competitions.
Referees Lawrence Zimondi, Nelson Meke, Tichaona Mbire and Owen Manenda were suspended in the first half of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League for various misdemeanors this year.
Zimondi and Manenda are some of the local referees on the FIFA panel, and their suspension by Zifa was a blow to their recognition by the world football governing body.
