Twenty-seven-year-old Thembi Ngobese from Cato Crest is one of many female referees who can be seen on any weekend on the football pitches across the land. For Thembi, refereering is a dream come true because she has always loved football.

As a player in the colours of Mighty Stars she did not convince the selectors to make it into the regional side. So she decided to heed the call of the Sourthern KwaZulu-Natal Football Association when it invited women to train as referees.

Thembi got the nod last year to become a fully fledged referee. That was after she attended the Association’s training programme.

As a novice she officiated in female games. But not for long. She was soon running the touchlines as an assistant referee in a men’s football game. Today Thembi officiates in the Vodacom League (2nd Division).

Her memories of her first game are not sweet. “

I was discriminated against because I was a woman. Men did not take kindly to me. But at the end of the game both managers came to shake my hand because of the way I handled their game, and there was no looking back. Now I am confident about officiating in the PSL when the time is right,” said Thembi. Thembi Ngobese has learned that to earn respect as a referee, she needs to be tough. Flashing red cards has become a routine for her.

Young cricketers to receive a boost

It seems Cato Manor cricket is destined for bigger things. It may not be too long before we see a Makhaya Ntini or Mfuneko Ngam sending down thunderbolts on our pitches. The Natal Cricket Union has made sure that both Umkhumbane Junior and High Schools get to play against Caldicott Prep School (from the UK) when they come visiting South Africa in April this year.

Caldicott is a school from Berkshire in the UK which is currently raising funds to come to South Africa to play nine games of cricket in places such as Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg and Cato Manor. Some of the funds that they will raise for the tour will be used to build a practise pitch and purchase nets at Wiggins Umkhumbane Multi-Purpose Centre. This tour is seen as something that will benefit underpriveledged children. The date set for Cato Manor is April 4. The team will comprise of 15 players, accompanied by 22 parents. Some of them will be coming to the country for the very first time. Their tour will end with a visit to Shakaland and Hluhluwe Game Reserve.

SPORTS CALENDAR 2001

Cato Manor sports enthusiasts can take heart in the knowledge that a year long plan is in place to ensure that 2001 is a sporting year. The Cato Manor Sports Committee which is made up of two members from all the communities of Cato Manor has recently met to draft a sports calender.

Sadly though, the committee has revealed that cultural events and soccer tournaments have run out of sponsorship. To this end a fundraising committee has been put together to address this problem.

“But this does not mean that these events will not take place. Its just that the budgets are quite limited this year,” said Boykie Khanyile, the sports development co-ordinator at CMDA.

To kick-start the programme the sports committee will meet monthly. The first meetings will take place during February. Sub-committees will be formed for the various codes and they will also meet monthly and report back to the sports committee.

In March cricket training programmes will continue as planned. A cricket sub-committee will be formulated to provide cricket training. The current co-ordinator from the Natal Cricket Union, Zakhele Simon, will act as an overseer. Cricket co-ordinating committees will be set up at each cricket venue with two members being incorporated into the NCU’s development structures.

An athletic sub-committee will also be formulated in March to organise athletic meetings for Cato Manor schools.

April will see the sports committee convening to formulate a netball sub-committee to co-ordinate people interested in the sport including schools and community members. The sub- committee’s responsibility will be to liaise with the KZN Netball Association.

The June 16 Youth Day Celebration otherwise known as the Cato Manor Youth Day will take place in June as usual. The soccer organising committee meets in June to co-ordinate and organise the Annual Cato Manor soccer tournament.

By July the soccer tournament will be staged. A draw for the tournament will be held during this month. Participants should be on the look-out for registration and closing dates.

Basketball enthusiasts will meet in August to formulate a sub-committee. A summertime league for all of Cato Manor must be drafted. Schools are invited to be part of the programme.

September will see all the sports sub-committees gathering for a sports leadership course. This will guarantee that members are adequately empowered to run with the programmes.

The yearly cricket festival which involves all Cato Manor schools will be staged early in October. Interested schools are requested to register early to avoid disappointment. During the same month an athletic competition for all primary schools will take place.

At the moment the months of November and December are still vacant but members of the public who have suggestions are welcome to table them. These must be submitted to area sports representatives.