The South African Football Association (SAFA) in ensuring that match officials at ABC Motsepe and SAB League level are in good condition to officiate matches, are intensifying their fitness tests in coming months.

Over and above ensuring that referees at National First Division (NFD) and Premier Soccer League (PSL) are of the highest quality, SAFA is working around the clock alongside highly qualified Referee Instructors to ensure that football at amateur level is officiated at the highest standards.

Since the beginning of March, a total of five provinces have been visited by SAFA in a bid to improve and maintain the quality of refereeing at amateur level.

Western Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo are the first five provinces that have been visited so far with the remaining provinces set to have their slots next month.

SAFA’s Head of Refereeing, Peter Sejake emphasised the importance of having such tests at amateur level, saying amateur football was the bedrock of the professional entity.

“One can never over-emphasise the importance of conducting regular fitness tests. For players and football as a whole to develop and operate at it’s optimum, we need to ensure that our referees are in good condition and exposed to the most modern methods of officiating,” said Sejake.

Upcoming SAFA Referees Fitness Tests:

15 May 2017 Mpumalanga

20 May 2017 Eastern Cape

21 May 2017 Western Cape

27 May 2017 North West

28 May 2017 Limpopo