COSAFA will once again be running legacy programmes at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier that is to be staged in Durban from August 7-13.

COSAFA provides workshops and training for those who see a future in the game at all the competitions they host and this one will be no different.

There will be a Referees Course that will run from August 2-6, where the match officials that will lead the tournament will be put through their paces with a number of practical exercises.

They will also have fitness assessments and refreshers on the current latest rules and regulations.

“We have been ranked number one in Africa as a zone in terms of the development of referees,” COSAFA Referee’s Manager Felix Tangawarima says.

“You can see on the ground that, for example, the [2021] Afcon final was taken by COSAFA referees, as was the finals of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup this past season.

“All of these were officiated by COSAFA referees. This is the first time it has happened, so we can see the results of our development plan that has been laid down for some years now.

“COSAFA is the only zone in Africa that is taking two ‘trios’ of match officials to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Out of the 16 match officials that are going to the World Cup from the continent, COSAFA is providing six. That is an amazing compliment to us.”

There will also be a day of Fast Footie put on for local young players on August 6. It is a new form of the game that will help budding footballers in the Under-15 age group develop their skills quicker.

Matches are shorter, the action quicker and it is all about talent on the ball.

You can hear more about it from former Bafana Bafana international Mark Fish by clicking here.