1 October 2024 – The National Referees Committee and the Referees Department have congratulated Abongile Tom and Akhona Makalima on their appointments by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in officiating as VAR and AVAR in the recent CAF Super Cup match between Al Ahly and Zamalek in Egypt.
Zamalek won 4-3 on penalties to claim the 2024 CAF Super Cup at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday, 27 September 2024.
“This remarkable achievement is testament to their dedication, skill, and professionalism. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and the honour they bring to South African officiating on the continental stage. Their appointment not only highlights their individual excellence, but also serves as an inspiration to all aspiring referees in our country.
“As top VAR officials on the continent, we are confident that Abongile and Akhona will continue to uphold the highest standards of officiating. We look forward to their future contributions to the training and development of match officials in South Africa, especially as we have entered discussions to one day introduce VAR technology in our domestic competitions.
“Once again, congratulations to Abongile Tom and Akhona Makalima. We are proud of you and wish you continued success in your officiating careers.”
South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan said he was delighted to see the great strides that South African match officials continue to make in the international stage.
“This recognition on the global stage is an inspiration to all officials who also follow in their footsteps,” Dr Jordaan said.
