Nobody knows more about match officials on the continent than legendary COSAFA Referees Manager Felix Tangawarima, who is tasked with bringing through a new generation of talent in the coming years.

He has already overseen the careers of some of Africa’s leading match officials, including the man of the moment Victor Gomes.

But with a number set to retire this year, who he names on The COSAFA Show, there is the need to push on and bring through a new group.

“We have been ranked number one in Africa as a zone in terms of the development of referees,” 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 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.”

Also on this episode we hear what Durban has in store for the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA CUP 2022 and get the thoughts of Zambia goalkeeper Hazel Nali ahead of the start of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Saturday.