Kitwe based female FIFA referee Gladys Lengwe has declared that she is no longer intimidated by insults and hostile reception match officials are sometimes subjected to during games.
Lengwe started officiating in 1998 and was later admitted to the FIFA panel of elite referees in 2002.
Speaking in a recent interview in Kitwe, Lengwe who officiates in both the Super Division and Division One acknowledged that at first it was not easy for her to handle matches amid insults and hostility at various stadia.
“When I first started handling matches, insults used to pain me a lot and sometimes I used to answer back,” she admitted.
“Now I am used and I have come to understand that insults and intimidation are part of football,” Lengwe said.
The charismatic female ref added that although she has never played football her love for the game motivated her to take up officiating as a career.
Lengwe emphasized that the authority given to referees during matches helps her to put up a brave face during games.
She also encouraged women to consider taking up refereeing as a career saying match officiating keeps one health and instills managerial skills in individuals.
Very refreshing. Keep it up mama wesu Congratulations on your achievements.
Uletukana nobe.
Do women referees officiate male teams?
Sure referees are the best leaders you can ever find.
Women of courage and determination, Just what we need in Zambia
go for it mama and the sky s the limit. we want to see you at AFCON and World Cup. all the best.
#2 wansekesha. ULICIPUBA BOYI. Kepp going mummy !
where is her picture?
The type of women Zambia needs motivated and fighters like the freedom fighters that won us our independence. Unlike some females on LT that want us to trade our morals and self worth. Ref on our dear sister our prayers and motivation for you :)