Shangula has sights set on World Cup
Bright future for Namibian official
Local match official Vistorina Shangula has her sights set on officiating at the 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup.
Former Brave Gladiators player Vistorina Shangula, who joined the refereeing fray in 2018, says she is impressed by leading South African referee Aikhona Makalima's call-up to July’s Women’s Fifa World Cup.
She's proud of Makalima, she said, adding that it just goes to show that women can and are capable of refereeing at top level.
Makalima will be the only South African official present at the global showpiece set to take place in Australia and New Zealand later this year.
Shangula - who is the 2022 MTC Namibia Annual Sports Awards referee of the year - said Makalima’s success means a lot for other women dreaming of one day standing among the men, being the one giving the directions and blowing the whistle.
The former footballer has over the past few years proven her professionalism and dedication to the game, and added that good things come to those who wait and that she will take it a step at a time.
League issues stymie progress
The Okahao-born Shangula currently has an A-licence, which is a requirement to officiate at the World Cup stage.
“We didn’t stand a chance to officiate at this year’s World Cup because we didn’t have an active league. But as long as we have an active league in which we can officiate, we will get the opportunities. For now, I will focus on building experience and soon enough I will officiate at the top stage,” she said.
Last year, Shangula officiated at the Cosafa CAF Championship League, which took place in Durban. She hailed it as a great experience. She also officiated the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Football Club against Buffaloes Women's Football Club match.
She further officiated at last year’s Cosafa Women’s Championship in South Africa, where the Namibian national women’s side faltered in the semi-final.
Other matches Shangula has officiated include South Africa versus Ethiopia and Ethiopia versus Nigeria as part of the under-17 Women's World Cup qualifiers, as well as the Women African Cup of Nations qualifier matches between Eswatini and Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Fitness
According to her, officiating is not an easy job.
‘‘You need to work hard, meaning you must be fit all the time because all the tournaments you attend requires you to undergo a fitness test.”
The local official is currently also helping local referees with fitness tests as she in the future wants to become fitness coach.
Another local referee worth mentioning is Twanyanyukwa Antsino. A former player herself, Antsino is also climbing the ladder and is worth keeping an eye on in the future.
If you would like to be featured in the sports segment of Namibian Sun, send an email to [email protected].
She's proud of Makalima, she said, adding that it just goes to show that women can and are capable of refereeing at top level.
Makalima will be the only South African official present at the global showpiece set to take place in Australia and New Zealand later this year.
Shangula - who is the 2022 MTC Namibia Annual Sports Awards referee of the year - said Makalima’s success means a lot for other women dreaming of one day standing among the men, being the one giving the directions and blowing the whistle.
The former footballer has over the past few years proven her professionalism and dedication to the game, and added that good things come to those who wait and that she will take it a step at a time.
League issues stymie progress
The Okahao-born Shangula currently has an A-licence, which is a requirement to officiate at the World Cup stage.
“We didn’t stand a chance to officiate at this year’s World Cup because we didn’t have an active league. But as long as we have an active league in which we can officiate, we will get the opportunities. For now, I will focus on building experience and soon enough I will officiate at the top stage,” she said.
Last year, Shangula officiated at the Cosafa CAF Championship League, which took place in Durban. She hailed it as a great experience. She also officiated the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Football Club against Buffaloes Women's Football Club match.
She further officiated at last year’s Cosafa Women’s Championship in South Africa, where the Namibian national women’s side faltered in the semi-final.
Other matches Shangula has officiated include South Africa versus Ethiopia and Ethiopia versus Nigeria as part of the under-17 Women's World Cup qualifiers, as well as the Women African Cup of Nations qualifier matches between Eswatini and Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Fitness
According to her, officiating is not an easy job.
‘‘You need to work hard, meaning you must be fit all the time because all the tournaments you attend requires you to undergo a fitness test.”
The local official is currently also helping local referees with fitness tests as she in the future wants to become fitness coach.
Another local referee worth mentioning is Twanyanyukwa Antsino. A former player herself, Antsino is also climbing the ladder and is worth keeping an eye on in the future.
If you would like to be featured in the sports segment of Namibian Sun, send an email to [email protected].
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